Category: Flashlights

I initially thought of writing this back in December of 2005, while walking around the Houma suburb of Bayou Cane.

I wrote it in late 2005 and most of 2006, then deleted it.

I wrote it again and modernized it in 2017, but I have yet to totally finish it.

Let me caution the reader and say that some of this may be offensive, especially to anyone who is an adherent of any sort of Pentecostal teaching.

I’m am NOT attacking any particular church at all by writing this piece.

The church in this story is totally made up but based on several Pentecostal and Chariamatic churches I have observed that are borderline cult.

I am a Believer in Christ and I mostly gravitate towards Baptist doctrine, because I find it to be most conformed with The Bible and I find that they are friendly and good natured Christian people.

With that being said, I was inspired to write this when I realize that many Pentecostal denominations and fragmented churches teach things that go against The Bible and the people can be downright cruel, especially to outsiders.

By writing this, I’m not trying to cause division in the Body of Christ, rather, I am trying to point out things I feel needed to be pointed out and God please forgive if I am wrong.

I will admit that I wish there would be a church that teaches sound doctrine and Biblical principles like the Baptists do, but also encourage [true] Spiritual gifts like [some] Pentecostal and Charismatic churches do. We probably won’t see a church like that on this side of Glory though.

I hope you, the reader, are entertained and informed, but please forgive in advance if you are the least bit offended.

My main characters also sin. They do indeed cohabitate, but only because it is the young man, Grayson, rescuing his girlfriend, Anna, from an abusive situation and never once do they fornicate. The story concludes with Grayson proposing marriage to Anna from his hospital bed, but I haven’t had the chance to get that part into text yet.

************************************************************************************
After Anna sat down, she looked around the whole room, then happened
to glance at the bar. She noticed a young man sitting there eating
peanuts and sucking on a bottle of Budweiser. He was dressed in long
khaki pants and a white T-shirt, stained with many oil and grease spots.
He had dirty blonde hair, covered by a brown newsboy hat and she could
see that he also had a thick beard.

Anna felt an attraction to him somehow and wondered how she could get
his attention. She pondered, then the idea came to her. She pretended
to sneeze a cute little sneeze. The young man currently had the end of
the beer bottle to his mouth and was taking a long sip. Finally, he put
it down.

She made her attempt and let out a cute little, “Choo!”

The young man looked away from the bar and beheld her, then said, “God bless you.”

“Awe, thanks!” Anna said with a giggle.

The young man was about to sip on his Budweiser again, but he looked
at her a second time. He saw she had beautiful pale skin, strawberry
blonde hair, bright hazel eyes. He also noticed the long skirt and
blouse she was wearing that covered almost all of her skin. He stared.
He kept staring at her. She smiled. He smiled back, then blushed and
looked away.

Anna pretended to sneeze again and let out a “K-Choo!”

The young man turned around again and said, “God save you!”

Anna then said, “Thanks. It must be all the dust from these peanut
shells that are stirring up my allergies.”

“You have such a cute sneeze,” He said, then looked at her booth and
asked, “Is this seat taken?”

“No, I guess not,” Anna said.

“Then may I come sit with you?” The young man asked.

“Sure, that would be nice,” Anna replied, smiling from ear to ear.

The young man took his beer and came to her table, then said, “I’ve
never seen you in here before and I come here every day after work to
kill a few beers.”

“This is my first time here,” Anna said, slightly nervous

“Well, I hope it’s not your last. I’m Grayson Thomas, by the way.”

“Anna Ryan.”
************************************************************************************
Grayson paused, then continued, “What are you doing later
tonight?”

“I’m supposed to go to youth group.”

“Right, and if you didn’t go, you would get a beating.”

“Yes, and my family would be expelled from the church.”

“Dang, because I would definitely like to see you again.”

“I would like to see you again too!”

“Why don’t you come over to my place tonight? I’m sure that would be
more fun than youth service, right?”

“I don’t know. If I did that, my parents would be livid. They would
beat the daylights out of me.”

“Are you happy? Do you parents really make you happy? Does that
insane church make you happy?”

There was quite an awkward silence following Grayson’s piercing
question.

Finally, Anna broke the silence and replied, “No-I am not happy at
all. I am miserable. My parents only allow me to go to church and
school. They beat me sometimes for a yes or a no. People at school make
fun of me because of the way the church forces me to dress.”

“Do you think I could make you happy? I definitely think you could
make me happy, in my twenty-two years on this earth, I’ve never beheld
anyone as beautiful as you!”

“It would be worth a shot.”

They smiled at each other, followed by a brief silence.

Then, Anna said, “Grayson, I have a confession to make: I didn’t
really have to sneeze, I just wanted to get your attention. I thought
you were good looking, but I didn’t know how to just get up and talk to
you. Sorry, but I just feel the need, to be honest with you now.”

“Wow! That was really cute and sweet of you. Not too many women or
girls are attracted to me, for whatever reason, but I’m definitely glad
that you are. I want to know more about you.”

“Well, you know I am eighteen. I’m also a senior at Melody High
School. In my free time I like to write, but if my parents knew about
the stuff I wrote, they’d destroy every copy and then, of course, beat
the daylights out of me.”

“You know you can press charges if they destroy your writing and
especially if they beat you.”

“But then I would break one of the Ten Commandments, by not honoring
my parents. I don’t want to to go hell.”

“I don’t think you would go to hell. You see, the Ten Commandments
were not written to show you how to save yourself, but to prove that you
cannot save yourself. No one can keep the law, that’s why Jesus Christ
offered grace on the Cross at Calvary.”

“Wow. I’ve never heard anything like that at the church I go to.”

“I can back it up with the Bible too because it’s frequently
mentioned in Paul’s Letters. The four Gospels carry this message as
well.”

“I like the way you preach, though I never thought I’d hear those
words come out of you when I saw that beer in your hand. However, I still
like hearing them from you. Could you tell me more about yourself?”

“Well you know I am twenty-two. I work as a fleet mechanic for the
Melody dockyards. I work the 6 AM to 2 PM shift weekdays, repairing and
maintaining the cranes, trucks and forklifts and any other machine that
breaks.”

“Wow, you must make good money then.”

Grayson blushed, then said, “Well, I don’t like to brag, but yes, I
do. I’ve been wanting someone to spend it on for a long time. I’m kind
of hoping that someone could be you.”

“I would gladly be that someone, it’s just I just have to get away
from my parents.”

Grayson held Anna’s hands and said, “You just let me know if you
need any help with that.”

Anna simply nodded and smiled.

As they held hands, Grayson’s G-Shock watch beeped. Grayson briefly
glanced at it the display, which indicated Four PM.

Anna asked, “Grayson, what time is it?”

“Four O’Clock.”

“Then I have to get home now so I can bathe and be clean for the
youth service.”

Grayson replied, “Why don’t you go home, bathe, then pretend to the youth service, but instead come to my place?”

“Sure but how could you pick me up without my parents knowing?”

“Easy. Instead of going to church, meet me back here. I won’t drink
any more alcohol this afternoon, so I’ll be fit to drive by the time you
get back.”

“Youth service starts at seven and lasts until ten.”

“Good, I’ll have plenty of time to sober up, then.”

“I guess I’ll see you later, then, right?”

“It’s a date. Well more than a date.”

Grayson and Anna hugged each other sweetly; then Anna left.

Grayson then walked back to the bar.

The bartender asked him, “Another Budweiser?”

“Negative. Just Wild Cherry Pepsi with no ice. I’m trying to sober
up.”

“Coming up.”
************************************************************************************
Back at the bar, Grayson had drunk five or six glasses of Wild Cherry
Pepsi and was keeping sharp eyes on his watch. It indicated 6:45 PM. He
went to the men’s room to relieve his bladder, then walked back to the
bar.

“Come on Anna! Where are you?!” He said to himself with great
frustration. What made it more agonizing is that he had absolutely no
way of contacting her. He sat and stared out of the glass of the
entrance door. Finally, he saw Anna coming on her bicycle. He briefly
saw up her skirt as she was peddling and was highly turned on, but then
collected himself.

Anna locked her bicycle then entered the restaurant. Grayson
welcomed her with open arms. She ran up to him and he hugged her and
picked her up. She wrapped her legs around him and they awkwardly stared
into each other’s eyes smiling.

“Are you ready to get out of here?” Grayson asked.

“Let’s go.”

Anna was hesitant then she asked, “Where will I put my bike?”

“In the bed of my truck, of course,” Grayson replied.

Anna smiled and said, “Sounds like a plan.”

With that Grayson paid off his tab and they walked out.

Anna unlocked her bicycle then Grayson lifted it into the bed of his
truck and closed the tail-gate. He then opened the passenger door for
her and helped her in. He accidentally saw up her skirt again and was
extremely turned on. However, he regained his composure and then walked
to the driver side and entered. Grayson started his truck and headed for
his cabin.

Upon arriving at the property, he asked Anna, “Would you like to try
driving my truck around the fields? I can teach you.”

Anna smiled and hesitantly nodded.

“Are you sure?” Grayson asked, then continued, “I don’t want to
make you uncomfortable.”

“I was taught at church that it is sinful and worldly to drive a
vehicle.”

“Well your parents would freak if they knew what I did for a living,
wouldn’t they?”

“They definitely would, but that wouldn’t be the only reason they
would freak. I don’t care though because you’re so much better looking
and nicer than any of the men at my church.”

Grayson blushed then asked, “So would you like to try driving? I’ll
guide you.”

“Sure thing.”

Grayson stopped his truck and parked it, then got out of the driver
door and Anna slid over to the driver side. He then entered on the
passenger side.

Both fastened their seatbelts and Grayson told Anna, “Put your right
foot on the brake pedal, that’s the one that’s a horizontal rectangle.”

Anna smiled from ear to ear and applied the brakes.

“Now pull the shift stick until you see the letter D light up on my
instrument panel.

Anna pulled the stick curiously, then watched the letters moved from
P to R to N to D.

Anna drove the truck all the way to the property line, when Grayson
said, “Okay, now turn around and go to the other end of the property,
but give it a little gas. Press the pedal that looks like a vertical
rectangle.”

Anna turned around and the truck picked up speed.

Suddenly, there was a loud bang and a jerking.

“What was that?” She asked, petrified.

“That’s just the engine backfiring. I’ve been meaning to fix that.”

They passed in front of a beautiful wooden house, where Anna asked,
“Is that your cabin?”

“It sure is. Would you like to see it?”

“Sure. I think I drove enough for tonight.”

“All right then press the brake slowly until the truck stops.”

Anna stopped the truck.

“Now you remember how to park it, right?”

Anna nodded, then parked the truck.

Grayson switched the engine and headlights off, took his keys out
then exited the passenger door.

He walked around the front of the truck, pulled his Pelican 1920
penlight out of his side pocket. As Grayson illuminated the ground, he
walked to the driver side door and opened it for Anna. She swung her
legs out and again, he was flashed and saw directly up her denim skirt.
Grayson was extremely attracted to what he saw but suppressed his urges
yet again because he revered Anna. He then helped her out of his truck
and they walked into his cabin by the beam of his penlight.

They stepped into the living room and then the kitchen.

Grayson asked, “What do you think?”

“It’s lovely.”

“What would you like to do?”

“Well, I don’t know.”
************************************************************************************
“Do you want to see my balcony?” Grayson asked after they caught
their breath.

“Sure.”

“Well, then follow me upstairs.”

Hand in hand they walked to the second floor of Grayson’s cabin, then
stepped out on his balcony. Grayson clapped his hands and all of the
amber colored LED lights came on.

“This is where I come when I want to be alone and contemplate my
life. I usually sit down, have a beer or a few shots of whiskey and just
think.”

“It’s beautiful here Grayson. I would love to take my composition
books and write all kinds of stories and poems because there’s so much
inspiration.”

“It’s nowhere near as beautiful as you.”

Slowly their lips met and they began to sweetly kiss. Anna placed
her hands under Grayson’s shirt and began to rub his chest. Grayson
rubbed Anna’s back then petted her long soft hair. They became wilder in
their kissing until Grayson’s G-Shock beeped.

“What time is it?” Anna asked.

“Ten O’Clock.”

“Oh, God, I have to get home or my parents would be livid.”

“I’ll drive you home.”

“Good idea.”

“Hold on just a second, Anna.”

“What is it, Grayson?”

“I know all about your church and how they forbid cell phones, but
I’d like to give you my cell number and my house number so you can keep
in touch with me whenever you can get to any phone.”

Anna nodded in distress.

Grayson took a piece of paper from his kitchen drawer and a pen and
wrote the numbers down.

Anna hid the paper in her brassiere, to which Grayson became highly
aroused.

“It’s close to my heart, just like where I want you to be,” Anna
said then giggled slightly, though very distressed.
************************************************************************************
As she turned the knob and entered, her dad was waiting in the living
room with a belt in hand.

“Where were you tonight, Anna?” He asked in a very confrontational
voice, then continued, “I know you didn’t go to youth service because
Brother Darryl called and said you didn’t attend, so don’t you dare lie
to me.”

Anna kept silent.

“I can make you talk!” Sean said as he struck her side with his
belt.

Anna flinched and shrieked, but didn’t say anything.

Sean stuck her shoulders this time, then said, “I’m going to beat an
answer out of you sooner or later. We can do this all night if we have
to.”

Anna mustered up courage and said, “I’m eighteen now and where I was
is none of your business anymore.”

Sean struck Anna’s right hip with his belt.

Her mother, Janice, came out of the bedroom and smacked her across
the face, then said, “It is our business, the church’s business, and
most importantly God’s business and always will be. Now answer us!”

Anna kept silent.

Janice then took a claw hammer from the kitchen drawer and said,
“Unless you want me to knock your teeth out, you will tell us where
you’ve been.”

Anna broke down and then spoke, “Okay, fine, I went eat out this
afternoon, there I met a young man and hung out with him.”

Janice flung the hammer on Anna’s left toes, then Sean struck Anna
across the face with the back of his hand.

Sean shouted with a fiery rage, “No wonder you skipped church,
because, you went spend time with some heathen instead. You know we’re
not allowed to associate with non-church members.” He paused, then said,
“Answer me truthfully: Were you alone with him?”

Anna nodded with tears rolling down her face.

Sean lashed her legs with his belt.

Janice pulled Anna’s hair, then said, “We are going to lose our
membership in the church if the Brother Darryl or any of
the deacons find out about this.”

“What is his name?”

“I won’t say because you and your church members will try to harm him.”

Janice held the claw hammer up, showing it to Anna.

Anna began sobbing and said, “Okay, his name is Grayson Thomas. Please don’t hurt him.”

“We just might have to, exactly what did he do with you, when you were alone with him?” Sean asked angrily.

“He was teaching me how to drive his truck. Then he brought me to
his cabin where we danced in the kitchen. Then we stood on his balcony
and stared into the night just talking. He’s really sweet to me and very
thoughtful, unlike any of the men at church. He never tried to take
advantage of me or anything like that and yes I do have feelings for
him.”

Janice popped Anna in the mouth and said, “Your feelings are wrong
and they are just sinful energies brought on by evil forces.”

“No, they feel very right and natural. You and dad have no affection
in your relationship, whatsoever. You never kiss, you never touch, you
never speak any romantic words to each other. I don’t want to be
subjected to such a cold marriage like that and if I marry one of the men
at church, that’s exactly what will happen to me.”

Sean slammed Anna to the ground then lashed her torso and legs with
his belt and said, “You have invited so much sin into your life, you’re
driving and dancing, which are absolutely forbidden, and now your
attacking your me and your mother’s marriage just because you never see
us behaving lewdly in front anyone! This is all because you are very
rebellious and always have been. I tell you, it is going to stop right
now if you know what is good for you!”

Sean slapped Anna across the face once more and then said, “Now go
to sleep, you have school in the morning.”

Anna went lay down on her cot and though in much pain, fantasized to
herself about Grayson until she fell asleep.
************************************************************************************
After she finished her bland breakfast, she
brushed her teeth and put on her shoes. She then walked out of the
trailer and got on her bicycle and headed to school.

As she was beginning to pedal, her dad spoke, “Just remember, God
can see everything you do and He will tell Brother Daryl everything. If
our family gets any church discipline because of anything you do, you
will get the beating of a lifetime.”

Anna nodded, sulked, the headed to school. She rode through all of
the exhaust fumes and dust but made it. Upon arriving, she locked her
bicycle, then sat outside the student office and waited until seven
thirty for it to open. She sat on the bench anxiously and kept looking
at the clock on the wall. Once again, she began to fantasize about
Grayson. She lapsed into a half-trance and smiled widely as her
imagination ran wild about all the things she wanted to do with Grayson.
When the lights were switched on, Anna snapped out of her trance as she
saw the secretary, Mrs. Barbara McGregor, open the door. She pulled the
slip of paper out of her brassiere, then walked towards the office door.

Anna walked into the office, and asked, “May I use the phone.”

“Sure thing, sweetie.”

“Thank you so much.”

Anna smiled brightly, then dialed Grayson’s cell phone number.

It rang twice, but then Grayson finally answered, “Hello?”

“Hey, Grayson. It’s me, Anna Ryan.”

“Oh. Hi, Anna. It’s so nice to hear your voice again.”

“Can you talk right now?”

“I’m at work, but I can take a coffee break.” He paused, then
continued, “Where are you calling me from?”

“The student phone at school.”

“Oh, okay.”

“My parents were really hard on me last night after they found out
about you.”

“I hope you still want to be with me.”

“Of course I do. You know they beat me, for going out with you, but
it was worth it.”

“You know you are eighteen and you can press charges on them for
that.”

“I could, but then God would punish me.”

“I doubt that seriously. Yes, you should honor your parents, but the
Bible also says they shouldn’t provoke you to wrath and they obviously
do. They shouldn’t try to keep you from being happy, either. I mean do
I even make you happy?”

“Yes, you definitely do. In fact, you’ve made me happier than I’ve
ever been, even in the short amount of time that I’ve known you.”

“You make me happy too. I just thought I would go to work, then get
off and drink myself into oblivion, then repeat it all every day until I
retire or die.”

“Why do you drink?”

“It takes away the sting of loneliness.”

“I can’t imagine why someone as cute as you would be lonely?”

“I guess I rub people the wrong way.”

“Well, rest assured, I want you.”

“And I want you. I wish we could be together without all of this
drama.”

“We will one day. I just have to get away from my abusive parents
and controlling church members.”
************************************************************************************
Meanwhile, Grayson walked back into the shop and saw two forklifts
that were in need of maintenance. Immediately, he retrieved his tools
and began working on them.

He worked throughout the morning, tinkering and troubleshooting the
defective engine on one of the machines, until finally, he caught the
problem, with a little help from the shop foreman, Mr. Jed McGregor.
Diligently he worked until the engine ran like new. He then began
working on the second forklift which was less trouble. Finally, it was
the hour of Noon. Grayson clocked out to eat lunch.

As he began to eat his first sandwich, his mom, Katy Thomas, called
him on Skype.

“Hi. Grayson, I’m just wondering why you didn’t come get any dinner
at my house last night?”

“Sorry, Ma. I was on a date with a young lady.”

“Oh. Who is this lucky girl?”

“Anna Ryan.”

Katy looked puzzled and said, “I don’t know of any Ryans around
here.”

“That’s because her family attends that crazy Pentecostal church.
You know; it’s the one where they can’t drive cars or use cell phones.”

“Oh, yes. I’ve heard about them. How old is she? Because if she is
underage, they will look for a reason to incriminate you.”

Katy got slightly angry and then said, “What and then you would go
to prison? Would it be worth it?”

“Anna is worth it and more.”

“I want to meet this girl that has you head over heels.”

“I’ll try to have you meet her as soon as I can.”

“Good. Now, why don’t you finish your lunch so you’ll have the
strength to do your job.”

“Right, ma.”

“I have to get back to running the store anyway, so I’ll see you when
I see you.”

“Sure thing, ma.”

They both signed off on Skype.

Grayson finished off his first turkey sandwich, wolfed down the
second and guzzled a can of Wild Cherry Pepsi.”

Afterwards, he clocked back in and went to the shop.
************************************************************************************
[Mister Jed McGregor spoke to Grayson,] “You seem to be in a good mood, better than usual.”

“Well let’s say my lips have been touching the lips of a young lady
instead of just the neck of a Budweiser.”

“That’s good. I didn’t want to say anything, but you obviously need
love in your life. Who is the girl?”

“Anna Ryan.”

“Ryan…Ryan…Doesn’t ring a bell. Is she from around here?”

“Yes, as far as I know. Her family attends that Pentecostal Assembly
Church.”

“Oh, yes. That place is a cult. Be careful with those people, they
are trouble. Some of them are roustabouts and longshoremen in these very
dockyards.”

“I’m well aware, but for her, any trouble would be worth it.”

“Sounds kind of serious.”

“Well, I’ve never felt this way about anyone else and Lord knows I’ve
had some feelings for others. They just never reciprocated them.”

“I think she will do you a world of good by giving you love and
stability. You could do her good too by rescuing her from that cult.”

“Bingo! I just need to convince her to leave her parents and church
no matter what stunt they try to pull.”

“Yes, that’s the hardest part, but my wife and I will pray for you.”

“Thanks, Mr. Jed.”

“Anytime. Now, why don’t you get that engine running nicely again.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Come get me if you need any help.”

“Sure thing.”
************************************************************************************
Anna walked down to the office and again asked Mrs. Barbara for the
telephone.

Mrs. Barbara handed her the base and handset and Anna placed the call
to Grayson.

The ring signal sounded only once, but then Grayson answered,
“Hello.”

“Hey, you!” Anna said.

“I missed you today.”

“I missed you too and thought about you, a lot.”

“You’re still at school I gather because you’re calling from the same
number as before.”

“You gather right. I was hoping we could meet up again today.”

“It’s a date. Where can I pick you up?”

“Right here at school, I guess.”

“Good, then I’ll come right over.”

“Awesome I can’t wait to see you.”

“Neither can I.”

“Then, I’ll be there in about five minutes.”

“I’ll be waiting. Now I have to go.”

“Okay. I’ll see you at school. Bye Anna.”

“Bye Grayson.”

They both hung up and Grayson left his cabin, then started up his
truck. He headed for the school. On the drive, Grayson pondered to
himself, whether he should buy a cell phone for Anna so she could keep in
touch with him covertly.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Barbara looked at Anna and said, “Sounds kind of
serious between you and whomever you’re talking to.”

“I hope it is,” Anna replied.

“Is he good to you?”

“He’s very good to me.”

“What’s his name?”

“Grayson Thomas.”

“I think there is a young man by that name who works under my husband
at the dockyards.”

“That’s him, then, because that’s where he works.”

“I’ve heard many good things about him, except that he’s had a lonely
life, so please don’t break his heart. I don’t know if he could take
it.”

“I’d never dream about it. Everyone at school is mean to me, and I
cannot stand my parents or those at my church, but Grayson, he’s
something else.”

“You’re eighteen right?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, good, because if you weren’t you could be putting him in a
world of trouble.”

“I’m more worried about what people at my church are going to do to
him, once they find out we’re together.”

“That bad?”

“Beyond bad!”

“Well, my husband and I will be praying for you and him.”

“Thanks.”

“Now why don’t you go wait outside for him.”

“Will do.”
************************************************************************************
Anna unlocked her bicycle, then Grayson put it in the bed of his
truck. He then opened the truck door for Anna and she climbed in.
Afterwards, Grayson entered his truck on the driver’s side, started it
and they left.

“How would you feel about me getting you a cell phone?” Grayson
asked Anna.

“I don’t know, isn’t that part of the anti-Christ system?”

“No. The only way I could see that would be if the SIM card was
placed in your right hand or forehead, but it isn’t.”

“Where is it placed?”

“In the back of the phone near the battery.”

“Oh okay.”

“You could keep in touch with me whenever you wish and as long as you
can keep it secret from your parents, they’ll never find out. You can
even send me text messages or emails and even browse the Internet to help
you with your school work.”

“That would be neat because my family computer is horribly out of
date and my parents track everything I look at on there.” She paused,
then continued, “But what if it rings or beeps?”

“You can set it to silent or vibrate to keep it more covert.”

“There’s a sneakiness about you, but it’s totally hot.”

“I don’t mean to be sneaky, I just want to be able to contact you and
I am willing to go great lengths to do so.”

“It shows how you’re dedicated to me and that means a lot.”

Grayson smiled and blushed, though his beard concealed most of it.
Anna held his hand and leaned against him.

There was a silence, but then Grayson asked, “So, will you be all
right with me getting you a phone?”

“Yes. Yes, I would.”

“Great then let’s go to the Best Buy Mobile store in the mall.”

“Sure,” Anna replied, hesitantly.
************************************************************************************
They walked out of the store and Grayson asked, “Would you like to
eat something?”

“Sure,” Anna said hesitantly.

“How about some corn dogs?”

“Okay, that would sound nice. My parents never buy any junk food.”

“Say no more.”

Hand in hand they walked to the food court and ordered two large deep
fried corn dogs and two large Cherry Cokes.

Happily, they ate until Grayson’s G-Shock beeped, indicating 4:00 PM.

“What time is it?” Anna asked.

“Four,” Grayson replied.

“That’s usually the time I arrive home on my bicycle-but I have to
use the bathroom first.”

“I’ll escort you to the ladies room and wait outside, but then I’ll
take you home if that’s what you want.”

“It’s not what I want, but I have to do it to keep my parents off my
back.”

“I wish you could spend more time with me, but I’m very grateful for
the little bit of time we can spend together.”

“You’re very sweet, Grayson,” Anna said as she kissed him then
continued, with a slight distress, “Now I have to get to a bathroom
because my bladder can’t hold it anymore.”

Both Grayson and Anna blushed brightly as they walked to the
restrooms.

“Be right back,” Anna said as she kissed Grayson again, then entered
the ladies room.

Grayson stood outside and several news articles on his phone while
waiting.

He stared at his phone until Anna came out of the bathroom covered
his eyes and playfully said, “Guess who?”

“I wish this moment would never end, but don’t you have to be home?”
Grayson asked.

“Yes, you better take me home, but I’ll miss you so much.”

Hand in hand they walked out of the mall and to Grayson’s truck.
************************************************************************************
Anna rolled her eyes, then went into her room. There was no lock on
her door, so she wondered how she could secretly communicate with Grayson
without the risk of her parents barging in and catching her doing so.

She then placed her cot against the door with her book bag on top of
it, then hid in her closet, closed the door and texted Grayson.

“Hey, you!” She sent out.

“Oh, Anna I’ve missed you so much already,” Grayson replied in a
matter of seconds.

“What you’re doing right now?”

“Just laying down-I took several shots of whiskey.”

“My parents would be so livid if they knew how you drink. Of course,
they’d be livid if they knew I was talking to you right now, anyway.”

“I know I shouldn’t drink, but it’s the only way I can deal with
life.”

“I’m not judging you for drinking, Grayson. I fully accept you for
who you are.”

“You’re so wonderful, Anna!”

“You’re making me blush!”

“Hey. Did you parents find out that we were together today?”

“So far, not yet. But if someone from church saw us together in
public today, we’re screwed.”

“Not necessarily. You are of age; you can move in with me and then
your parents would never be able to hit you again.”

“But cohabitation is a serious sin.”

“I know it is, but what I feel for you is very valid and very real.
I’m not trying to rush into things, but I would marry you in heartbeat.
That’s how I feel about you, plus our relationship would then be right in
God’s eyes. It’s totally up to you though, ultimately.”

“Well, you’re much more dreamy than any of the men at my church.
You’re also very kind and thoughtful. I could definitely see myself
marrying you. It’s just my parents and church members wouldn’t stand for
it because they would claim how I am unequally yoked.”

“But you’re not unequally yoked-I too am a believer and have been for
five years. I know ‘m far from perfect, but I also know that I am saved and therefore a
genuine believer. Of course, your church thinks they are the only true
Christians, but that’s definitely not the case.”

“I knew you were a believer. I knew ever since you taught me about
how the ten commandments were not guides to save yourself but proof that
you cannot save yourself. It’s convincing my parents and church members
that you are a genuine believer.”

“A family friend saw I was suffering from severe depression as a
teenager, so he presented me the Gospel. I believed right then and
there. He then offered me a job as a mechanic’s helper in the dockyards
as soon as I graduated high school. I don’t take antidepressants or any
other medications because they are extremely unhealthy and would greatly
hinder my job performance. Instead, I turn to alcohol, mostly beer and
whiskey only during my off hours. It definitely tempers the sting of my
depression. My boss doesn’t totally agree with it but accepts it because
I use it as basically a cheaper and safer alternative to medicine. I
also keep my drinking and my work totally separate.”

“What makes you so depressed?”

“I was harassed a lot in school. People also spread false rumors
about me. I think it’s made me a better person overall though.”

“Yes, you have a wonderful heart, that’s for sure. And I know what
that’s like, I get harassed all the time because of the way I am forced
to dress. I’m sure people spread rumors about me as well.”

“I don’t see why they would harass you, those skirts are so sexy on
you!”

“You just like looking up them; don’t think I haven’t noticed!”

“Yes, I’ll admit it, I did see up your skirt a few times, please
forgive me for that but I’m only human. I’m sorry if I angered you by
doing it.”

“You didn’t anger me, you only made me feel pretty and wanted. I
like how you’re so honest with me.”

“I learned this a long time ago; honesty is the best policy.”

“Well put.”

“So, how did you get saved?”

“I was twelve years old and we went to a different church-a wonderful
church, with a wonderful pastor. On one Sunday morning, he was preaching
and it seemed as if the message was just for me, I realized I was a
sinner and that I needed Jesus to take my sins away. I walked to the
front of the church and got saved that very day. But then, a year later
the pastor was murdered while giving a ride to a hitchhiker. After
that, a new pastor came in and he caused a lot of division. So the
church fragmented and my parents were looking for a new church to go.
One day, we met this joke of a pastor, Brother Darryl Crockett, at a
restaurant. He sweet talked them, then brainwashed them and even
convinced them to move to Melody. They sold their house in Blues City,
gave most of the money to this church and then bought a run down trailer
and a cheap lot in Melody with the rest of the money and that’s where
we’ve been staying since.”

“That’s awful. I’m sure the deceased pastor has a huge crown though
that he casts at the Feet of Jesus up in Heaven. However, this Brother
Darryl you mention, he seems like one of those people that are mentioned
in the Book of Hebrews and the Book of Jude as well. He’s a wolf in
sheep’s clothing and he is misleading many. He is causing many bad
things to happen in the Name of Jesus.”

“I know that and you know that. However, my parents can’t seem to
figure it out and I bear the brunt of the suffering as a result.”

“Just say the word and I will rescue you.”

“I wish it was that easy.”

“It is, just get on your bike and meet me somewhere and I will take
you to my cabin and we can have a life together. You’ll never have to
see any of those people again.”

“But Melody isn’t that big of a city; I’m sure I’ll run into them at
some point or another.”

“And if I am with you, I’ll just tell them to stay the hell away. I
can buy you something to protect yourself though, just say the word.”

“That’s very sweet of you Grayson, but you don’t know the trouble
you’re putting yourself in.”

“It would be worth all that trouble and more if it means we can be
together.”

“Grayson. I know we haven’t been together that long, but I think I’m
in love with you. No one has shown such kindness towards me ever, well
until you came along. How do you feel, do you love me too?”

“Yes, Anna I do. I’ve been in love with you almost since you let me
sit with you in the restaurant. No one else has ever given me the chance
to love them like you have. You accept me for me. I would have told you
how I felt sooner, but I was afraid of scaring you off.”

“You wouldn’t have scared me at all. You would have just made me
feel on Cloud Nine. I’m so happy we feel the same way.”

“So am I, Anna.”

Suddenly, Anna heard her bedroom door open and her cot and bookbag
fall on the floor. Hurriedly, she hid her smart-phone in her panty and
pretended to sleep on the floor of the closet.

“Anna, where are you? You’re supposed to be doing your homework.”
Her dad shouted.

She continued to pretend to sleep.

He flung the closet door open and saw her laying down.

“Get up right now!” He said sharply.

Anna pretended to wake up startled and said, “Oh, it’s you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean, young lady?” Her dad said as he began
to undo his belt.

“Nothing,” Anna said.

“That’s what I thought.” He paused, then continued, “What are you
doing sleeping in the closet?”

Anna fabricated a quick lie and said, “I was looking for something,
but then I guess I fell asleep. I didn’t get much sleep last night since
you and mom beat the daylights out of me.”

“If you wouldn’t act like such a brat, you wouldn’t get beaten.”

“How do I act like a brat? Do I use drugs or drink? No. Do I sleep
around? No. Do I act up in school? No. Tell me, what wrong do I do?”

“You’re disrespectful and ungrateful. And lately, you’ve been trying
to keep company with a heathen.”

“You only think I am disrespectful and ungrateful because you never
let me go anywhere except school and church and I resent that. Everyone
else my age is going out and having fun and enjoying life. As for the
heathen that you call him, I love him and I don’t care what you think of
him.”

“Everyone else your age is worldly and therefore hellbound. You can
lose your place in Heaven too if you start acting like them. Do you want
that?”

“Our old pastor always taught once saved, always saved, and he backed
it up with scripture as well, so I won’t lose my place in Heaven.”

Our old pastor was wrong. Brother Darryl is right. I have proof
too, Brother Darryl speaks in tongues, did you ever see our old pastor do
that?”

“But what good works does Brother Darryl do? Remember, our old
pastor was kind enough to give a hitchhiker a ride and was murdered. Do
you ever see Brother Darryl lift a finger to help anyone? All he does is
tell everyone what to do and how to live.”

Anna’s dad took off his belt and began to lash her as he spoke, “How
dare you question our pastor! I don’t know what has gotten into you, but
I am going to beat it out of you, even if it takes me all night to do
so.”

“If you hit me with your belt or hand or anything else one more time
I am going to call the police and press charges on you. I am a legal
adult, therefore you no longer have the right to whip me.”

“Go ahead, just do that and you will surely burn in hell for not
honoring your mother and me.”

“Then by that logic, you will burn in hell for provoking me to
wrath.”

Anna’s dad then punched her in the head, knocking her out. He then
left the room.

Meanwhile, Grayson texted her multiple times.

“Anna, are you there?” “Anna please reply to me.” “Anna please let
me know you’re all right.” “Anna, I am really worried about you, please
answer me.” “I love you so much, Anna and I hope and pray you still feel
the same about me.” “Anna, my heart is breaking that you don’t reply to
my messages, but maybe you have a good reason.”

It was now about six o’clock in the evening and Grayson drank a whole
bottle of Crown Royal and then passed out on his bed.
************************************************************************************
Around five O’Clock in the morning, she came to, then went to the
bathroom to relieve her bladder.

She saw her phone still in her underwear as she pulled it down and
sat on the toilet.

She read the messages from Grayson while doing her business.

Frantically she replied to him, “Grayson, I am so sorry I didn’t
reply to you and I know you must be worried sick. Please know that I
still love you and want you more than ever. My dad punched me in the
head yesterday afternoon and I blacked out. Thank God he didn’t find my
phone because I hid it in my panty. I dreamed many beautiful dreams
about you while I was knocked out. I will call you as soon as I am at
school.”

Grayson was slowly waking up as he heard his G-Shock alarm go off.
He was suffering from a hangover but managed to read the message on his
phone.

“Oh, Anna, I’m overjoyed that you still want me, but I fear for your
life. If your own dad will harm you like that, then you need to get out
of that house and come stay with me. You don’t have to sleep with me if
you don’t want to, I just want you to be safe.”

“Yes. I want to live with you as well, I’ll be safer with you and
not to mention we love each other. We can discuss it further when I
arrive at school and I can talk with you on the phone.”

“Oh, Anna, I love you so much! I’ll take a personal day because I am
hungover anyway. When you didn’t reply to my messages, I drank a whole
bottle of Crown Royal and I am going through a hangover. If only I would
have known you were hurt, I would never have drunk that whiskey.”

“Will you be sober enough to drive by a quarter to three this
afternoon?”

“Yes. I don’t have any more alcohol in my cabin and I won’t buy
anymore, at least until this situation is neutralized.”

Grayson then called Mr. Jed McGregor,

“Hello.”

“Hey, Mister Jed, it’s Grayson Thomas. I need to take a personal
day today. I’ll be rescuing my girlfriend from her parents and church,
so I need to prepare myself for this.”

“That’s fine Grayson, you haven’t taken a personal day in over six
months, so I understand.”

“Thanks.”

“Anytime.”

They then hung up.

Grayson brewed some coffee and prepared his breakfast, then ate.
************************************************************************************
Anna was still in the bathroom when her mom banged on the door and
shouted, “You’ve been in there too long. Now get ready for school.”

Anna simply complied with her mom’s orders, then went to her bedroom
and changed her clothes. At once, she hid her phone in a secret
compartment of her school bag and also placed her personal hygiene items
and a few of the valuables she had from her childhood in there as well.
Afterwards, Anna retrieved all of her composition books and flash drives
with her writings on them, then mounted her bicycle and left for school.

She arrived, after cycling through the exhaust fumes and dust, then
went into the girl’s bathroom and called Grayson.

He picked up his phone after just one ring and answered, “Hey Anna,
are you all right?”

“Yes. I am okay, for now.” She paused and then asked, “Are you
still serious about me moving in with you?”

“Serious as I’ll ever be.”

“Good, because I’ve realized that I could die if I continued living
with my parents. It was when dad punched me in the head and knocked me
out, that I realized how bad of a situation I am in.”

“Well, you can stay with me up to and including forever if you wish.”

“I will indeed stay with you, but I know my church members are going
to make a lot of trouble with us.”

“I’ll do my best to protect you from them.”

“I love you, Grayson.”

“I love you too, Anna.”

“I have no money and I wasn’t able to take any clothes with me,
except the ones on my back.”

“I’ll buy you modest clothes for when you are out in public, but I’ll
also buy you some sexy clothes for when you are alone with me.”

There was an awkward silence but then Grayson said, “Sorry, I didn’t
mean to be controlling.”

“No, it’s all right. I understand. You’re the only one I want to
lust after me anyway.”

“Believe me, I already do.”

“I know you do and it’s totally cute.”

“Do I ever turn you on?”

“All the time. In fact, it would be a serious sin if I described to
you the dreams I had about you last night.”

“I understand.”

“One day, though we will be married and I will want to live out those
dreams!”

“Your wish will then be my command, Anna!”

“I cannot wait until then. I know I’ve only met you not even two
days ago, but you seem so wonderful to me.”

“And I am so blessed to have found you. I will love you until the
day I die!”

With that, the morning bell rang.

Anna said, “I have to get to class now, but know that I love you,
Grayson.”

“I love you too, Anna. Do you want me to pick you up and thus begin
our new life?”

“Most assuredly, yes I do!”

They then hung up.
************************************************************************************
Finally, the dismissal bell sounded. Anna went to the front of the
school, pulled out her phone and called Grayson.

After only one ring, he answered, “Hi Anna.”

“Hey, Grayson. Can you come get me from school and take me to your
place?”

“Sure thing, Anna!”

“I can’t wait to see you.”

“Well, I’m coming right now and I’ll be there in about five minutes.”

“I’ll be waiting in the front.”

“Awesome. I love you, Anna!”

“I love you too, Grayson!”

Anna stood by the bicycle rack and unlocked her bike. She then stood
there waiting for Grayson.

Mrs. Barabara McGregor came out of the student office and spoke to
her, “Are you waiting for Grayson Thomas to come get you?”

“I sure am.”

“Do you need to use the phone to call him?”

“No ma’am, he bought me a phone to keep in touch with him.”

“Wow, that was kind of him.”

“It definitely was.”

“Could I meet him?”

“Sure.”

“I’ve heard my husband speak highly of him many times and I know
you’re a very sweet girl, so I think y’all will make a lovely couple.”

Grayson parked his truck then took Anna’s backpack and bicycle and
placed them in the bed of his truck.

He then said, “Anna I would love to kiss you so much right now, but I
don’t want to get us in any trouble.”

“I understand.”

Mrs. Barabara then said, “So you’re Grayson Thomas. I heard a lot
of things about you.”

“Nice things I hope.”

“Nothing but nice. My husband is your boss and of course, Anna is
one of my favorite students.”

“Well, Mr. Jed is a great guy to work for. He taught me so much and
he is very understanding of my condition. You see, I frequently suffer
from depression.”

“Well, Anna thinks the world and the moon of you.”

“And I love her with all my heart. She is a tremendous blessing to
me.”

Anna then blushed and softly held Grayson’s hand.

Mrs. Barbara continued, “I want you to know, that both of you are in
my prayers and I want you to take good care of her.”

“I greatly intend to. She has brought so much happiness into my
life. Thank you for your praying because I know we will both need a lot
of prayers right now.”

Anna was filled with several urges to hug and kiss Grayson but knew
she couldn’t on school property.

Mrs. Barbara looked at Anna and said, “Well I have to get back to my
office, but both of y’all stay true to each other and love each other.

Grayson and Anna nodded.

Mrs. Barbara went back inside then Grayson opened the passenger door
for Anna and helped her in.

He then walked to the driver side, got in and started his truck.

They left the school and Grayson asked Anna, “What would you like to
do?”

“I just want to be able to relax. Maybe later you could take me
out.”

“Then let’s relax together. Afterwards we can go out, because, after all, it’s
Friday.”
************************************************************************************
Suddenly, there was a knocking on Grayson’s door.

Both went down to answer.

It was Grayson’s mother, Katherine Thomas.

“Is this a bad time, Grayson?” She asked.

“No, not at all. In fact, mom, this is Anna Ryan,” Grayson said
as he proudly showed off Anna to her.

“Well she sure is pretty. You have good taste.”

Both Grayson and Anna blushed.

She continued, “I was wondering if you could take a look at my
car, it’s starting to leak oil badly.”

“Sure thing, ma. Just let me get my tools.” Grayson then walked
to his closet.

She looked at Anna then said, “My son is a real handy man, he’s
always fixing people’s vehicles.”

Anna simply nodded, nervously.

Grayson came out with his tool satchel, then said “Where’s your
car at, ma?”

“It’s in my driveway. I drove it home but the low oil pressure
light keeps coming on. I bought several quarts of oil just in case.”

“I’ll get to fixing it right away, if I can,” Grayson said,
walking to his mother’s house.

“Awesome. I have to open my antique shop tomorrow morning and I am
expecting a huge crowd.”

“Say no more, I’ll do my best to fix it.”

The three walked to Katherine’s car and watched Grayson as he
raised the hood.

He saw lots of oil leaking around the oil filter.

“I think I know what is wrong,” He said.

“Pray tell me what is it?”

“Your oil filter is on loosely.” Grayson paused, then said, “Did
you recently have an oil change?”

“Yes, a week or two ago.”

“That’s your problem, whoever changed your oil didn’t tighten the
filter on all the way. I can fix that though in a couple of seconds.”
Grayson said, with his filter wrench in hand.

He tightened down the filter wrench, then asked, “Where’s your
extra quarts of oil?”

“On the floor board by the back seat.”

“I’ll top it off then and your car should no longer leak.”

Grayson then poured two quarts of oil into the engine, wiped down
the starter then started the engine.

The car turned on perfectly with no lights on the instrument panel
activating.

“Good as new for now. Next time you need an oil change let me do
it instead.”

“Thank you, Grayson. Are you an Anna going out tonight?”

“Yes, later tonight.”

“Then have a good time and be sure to treat Anna right because she
seems like a wonderful young lady.”

Both blushed.

“And come to my house for Sunday dinner.”

“Will do.”

Grayson and Anna walked back to the cabin, hand in hand.

Anna whispered to him, “I don’t know what is more sexy about you,
the fact that you’re kind and help your mother or watching you fix that
car.”

Grayson blushed, then kissed her lovingly.

They arrived at the cabin and Grayson asked Anna, “Do you still
want to go out?”

“Most definitely.”
************************************************************************************
As they were driving, Grayson told Anna, “Though I think you are
sexy in those plain denim skirts, I know you hate them and tonight is the
last night you’ll have to wear them.”

Anna smiled from ear to ear, then held Grayson’s hand.

Soon they arrived at the mall and entered into Dillard’s.

With arms on each others’ backsides they rode the escalator to the
third floor, not knowing they were being watched and followed. Upon
arrival at the third floor there was some lingerie on display. Both were
looking at it.

Anna finally said, “Wouldn’t I look sexy in these panties?”

“You’d look sexy in anything you put on. Or you’d be sexy in
nothing at all!” Grayson replied as he kissed her. Anna kissed him in
return.

The kisses grew more passionate. They were followed by a strong
embrace and them rubbing each others’ faces and hair.

Suddenly they heard a loud, confrontational voice, “Anna Ryan,
what do you think you are doing?”

A short, bald and obese young man stepped out from hiding and continued
yelling at them, “First you missed the youth service, now you are
fondling some heathen in public? It’s going to stop this instant.
You’re coming with me right now!”

“She’s not going anywhere, but with me.” Grayson said angrily,
then continued, “Your church is a cult, brainwashed by your unsound
doctrine.”

“Shut your mouth and stay out of this, boy, or I’ll smack you
silly.”

Grayson grew even angrier, “You’re going to smack me? Just try
it! If you do, I’ll kick the crap out of you then call mall security and
let them know of you’re attempted kidnapping. Wouldn’t the press have a
field day: a preacher arrested for battery and attempted kidnapping!
Whatever happened to turning the other cheek? Go ahead preachy, give me
your best shot!”

“Okay, you might be able to turn our godless authorities against
me, but you cannot turn God against me! You are going to have to answer
to God for taking Anna away from my church and you Anna are going to lose
your salvation for leaving my church and your judgment will be even
worse.”

Grayson then said, “Your judgment is going to be the worst of
all. You are a false teacher, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, just like
those mentioned in Hebrews and Jude. Of course, your church probably doesn’t actually study the Bible, no all your church members do is rely on mysticism. You’ve been marked out for
destruction a long time ago, but Anna will no longer suffer as a result
of your wrongdoing. Now either you leave us alone or I will call mall
security.”

“Believe what you want, you worthless heathen, but you are going to
pay big time for turning Anna against us. I’m leaving for now and you
may have won the battle but not the war.”

Darryl then left and Anna began to have a panic attack. She
started hyperventilating and crying. Grayson took her by the hand and
then they went down the escalators to the first floor and sat down on a
bench.

Grayson tried his best to comfort Anna as he kissed her softly and
petted her face.

Anna finally caught her breath, then said, “That church is going
to make so much trouble with us, oh you don’t even know what we’ve gotten
ourselves into.”

“It can’t be that bad and if it is, I’ll just have to call the
cops.”

Anna sat next to Grayson with her head on his chest and they
lovingly held each other on the bench.

Finally Anna calmed down and kissed Grayson once more.

He asked her, “Are you ready to go shop for some clothes?”

“Yes. Let’s go.”

Grayson and Anna walked back into Dillard’s and they both began to
look at the women’s clothes.

After Anna selected and tried on several outfits and undergarments,
they checked out and left the store.

Then they went to Forever 21 and Grayson said, “We can shop here
to get you some more casual clothes.”

Anna nodded, then they looked around. Grayson bought Anna some tee
shirts, a pair of overalls and shorts.

After leaving Forever 21, Grayson said, “You must be hungry, let’s
go eat at the bar and grill where we first met.”

“Yes. That’s Abbey Sloane. She is in my F.A.C.S. Class. She’s
actually one of the few students who don’t harass me.”

“Okay, I was just making sure she wasn’t one of your crazy church
members.”

“Our church forbids women and girls from working outside the home.
That’s really messed up because I truly want to be a romantic novelist.”

“Hey, you’re with me now and I will support you in any career you
choose! I just hope that you don’t choose a career that makes you think
you’re too sophisticated for a simple dockyard mechanic like myself.”

“Don’t ever worry about that, Grayson. I see how kind you are and
how you are willing to take care of me at this very low point in my life,
so rest assured I won’t ever forget that. If anything, you’ve inspired
me to write many wonderful stories and all of my good characters will be
based on you. I just haven’t had the chance to write them down.” She
paused then continued, “You know what else, if I ever become a famous,
I’ll want you right there by my side, inspiring me!”

“Oh, Anna I love you so much. I always thought that I would die a
lonely old bachelor, probably from liver cancer, but because of you, I’m
seriously considering to give up the bottle altogether! It won’t be
easy, but I know that until you are comfortable enough to be able to
drive, I’ll have to drive you around, which means I must be completely
sober, because your safety is more important to me than temporarily
killing the things in my life that give me grief.”

“Grayson! I love you too! No one has ever been so sweet to me as
you. I feared being in an arranged marriage to some cold hearted wife
beater. I was so afraid of having to sleep with a man like that night
after night and popping out child after child, then spend all my free
time working for that miserable church. You’re drinking is not that
bothersome to me, but if you’re willing to give it up, then I’ll be there
to help you give it up. I can see a bonus to you giving up the alcohol
and that is, you’ll be able to love me, as in the way I am so desiring
you to love me, for many more years down the road.”

“How do you want me to love you?”

“Well right now it would be a serious sin if you did what I want
you to do, but if we got married we would be allowed to do it all we wanted.
Not only that, God would require us to!”

“I see what you’re saying. Well, you know I would definitely put a
ring on your finger, not just so I can make love to you, but because I
want you with me for the rest of my life.”

“They might make you gain weight, but then that would just be more
for me to hold at night.”

Both blushed again, then Grayson said, blushing even more, “Well
once we’re married, I’ll definitely have a means for burning off those
excess calories.”

Anna giggled and their lips met. They shared a sweet kiss, then
Grayson took a big sip of his Wild Cherry Pepsi.

Anna took a few sips of her sweet tea.

Grayson then asked her, “Do I really remind you of the good
characters in your stories?”

“You sure do. There was one character I created, who dressed just
like you were dressed the day we met, but he was an artist. There’s another character I created who was a tractor mechanic, which you are a mechanic,
but in the dockyards. Then I created another character who was a drunk,
but a fun drunk not a mean one and I created him, I guess out of
rebellion because my parents and church are so strict. I created this
fantasy world to escape what was a cruel reality to me. The weird part
is, it’s like you came to life from my creations.” She paused and then
continued, “Pinch me to wake me up just to make sure I’m not dreaming.”

“I’m not going to pinch you, Anna. I don’t want to hurt you.”

She got up from her chair, stood next to Grayson, then turned her
backside to him and said, “Just give me one quick pinch on my butt to
wake me up and make sure I’m not in a dream.”

She then pushed her backside in his face and said, “Please do it.”

“Very well, Anna.”

Grayson nervously placed his thumb and index finger on her
buttocks, through her thick denim skirt and softly pinched.

Anna then said, “What do you know, I didn’t wake up. This is
better than any dream.” She paused, turned to face him and then said,
“Now you better give me a kiss since you touched my butt!”

“I’ll gladly kiss you.”

Their lips locked as Anna sat on Grayson’s lap.
************************************************************************************
Both began to heavily pet and kiss each other, until a classmate
of Anna’s showed up and began to make trouble.

Tauntingly, the girl walked up to Grayson’s truck and said, “Look
at little miss Charlene Church, she finally has a boyfriend.” She paused
and then continued, “I think I’m going to tell your parents about him, I
bet they won’t like it.”

Grayson whispered to Anna, “Do you know this nasty thing that
walked up here?”

“I was hoping you’d like the view, but maybe you need your eyes and
head examined.”

“Not in your wildest dream, I don’t want you. I only want Anna
period. And if you don’t leave us alone, I’ll call the cops on you.”

“My family knows the police chief, the cops won’t do me anything.”

Anna was now extremely irritated and then said, “Don’t I have to deal
with you enough at school? Why don’t you go screw some jock or
something.”

“Maybe I want your man?”

“You can’t have him.”

“How are you going to back that claim to him up? I could easily
kick your butt if I wanted to.”

Grayson was completely fed up at this point and pulled his shot gun
out of the storage box in his truck bed, pumped it, pointed it at Andrea,
then said, “If you lay one finger on Anna, you will have many new holes
in your body for all the boys to play with. That is, if you indeed survive.”

“Okay, I’m going. You don’t have to be such a douche bag.”

Anna told her, “He’s not a douche bag, he just loves me. You
aren’t loved, you’re just screwed.”

“This isn’t over. Your man cannot protect you when you’re at
school.”

Grayson said, “God will protect her though, and by the way, that’s
Someone Whom you should consider allowing in your life because you
obviously need Him, whether you admit it or not.”

“There is no God!” Andrea shouted, then finally left.

Grayson picked his gun up and locked it in the storage box.

He then looked at Anna soberly and said, “I’m sorry you had to see me act
that way, but I couldn’t allow her to harm you.”

Anna replied as she rubbed the hairs on Grayson’s chest, “You
don’t have to apologize for anything. You just chose me over whom many
think is the hottest girl in the whole school. I feel on top of the
world.”

“You’re so much more beautiful than her, both inside and out.”

“Grayson, you’re definitely making me want to commit that sin with
you, more than ever.”

“That machinery you see there is going out to sea, to help drill for oil and gas which fuels the
country,” Grayson explained.

“We would ride our bikes to church and had to cross this canal and
my dad would get so angry when the bridge was out to let the boats pass,
because we would be disciplined for being tardy at church services. My
mom would always complain about the deckhands and say how they were awful
men and try to hide me from them. Sometimes they would even pray that all
these industries would fail,” Anna replied.

“Wow, that Darryl Crocket sure did a number on your parents. Maybe
your church should move to a better location or better yet shut down.
Yes, some of those deckhands are a little wild, but most of them are
hardworking young men and sometimes women who want to provide a better
life for their families. And if these industries fail, like your parents
pray for, I would have to move elsewhere to find employment.”

“I would go with you, if you have to move.”

“I’d be heartbroken if you didn’t.”

“Rest assured, Grayson, I want you forever!” Anna said as she
kissed him.

Grayson kissed her in return.

Their kissing became sweeter and more passionate as they lay in the
bed of the truck.

The captain of the boat sounded the horn, in response to witnessing
them making out, which startled both Grayson and Anna.

Both giggled to each other afterwards.
************************************************************************************
Suddenly, Anna became highly distressed.

Grayson could see Anna was visibly upset and asked, “Baby, what’s
the matter?”

Anna pointed further down the freezer cases and said, “Look over
there Brother Darryl’s wife is in this store, she is getting collard
greens for the church dinner tomorrow. If she sees me with you, she’ll
make a scene.”

“I’ll protect you.”

“She’s whipped me when I was younger and she carries a gun in that
big purse of hers.”

“We’ll have find a hiding spot, then. God, I feel so weak, but all
I have is my Snap On pocket knife and my Pelican penlight. They’re no
match for a pistol of any caliber. If only I had my twelve gauge with me
like earlier today.”

“Don’t worry about feeling weak Grayson, because I want you to be
safe so you can be by my side forever. Besides, I want to have you alive
and kicking on our wedding night.”

“We need to pray that God protects us.”

Both silently prayed, holding hands.

A stocker came walking up to them and said “I over heard your
conversation. I’ll be glad to hide both of you in the warehouse until
that woman leaves the store.”

“Couldn’t you get fired for bringing us back there though?”
Grayson asked.

The three walked to the warehouse. The stocker pulled out his
penlight, a AAA Mini Maglite LED, to light up the darker areas.

“I carry one like that too, but mine is a Pelican,” Grayson said,
pulling his out.

“My girlfriend bought it for me. I always have it on me because it
reminds me of her.”

“I got mine at a gun and knife store, while on vacation earlier
this year.”

“So what does this dangerous woman look like?” The stocker asked.

“She’s tall and heavyset. She has a long black hair and
glasses. She is carrying a large brown purse and is wearing a purple
dress,” Anna replied.

“I’ll call my friend in customer service to have the cart pushers
let me know when she leaves the store.”

The stocker pulled his cell phone out of his pants pocket and
placed the call.

Grayson and Anna listened.

“Hey.” “I have a young couple with me who feel threatened by a
suspicious customer. They know she’ll make trouble with them, so I have
them hiding in the warehouse. She’s tall, and heavy with long black hair, glasses and wearing a purple dress. She has a large
brown purse and in that purse is a pistol of some sort, so don’t engage her,
just have the cart pushers let you know when she is off the premises,
then tell me.” “Okay, thank you very much.” “All right, bye.”

The stocker then looked at Grayson and Anna and said, “They’ll let
us know when she’s gone and you can shop safely again.”

“You don’t know how we appreciate this,” Anna said.

“Yes, thank you very much, sir. I have a twelve gauge in my truck,
but it’s not like I could use it to protect myself in here.”

“How do you know this woman?”

“I don’t know her as of yet, and Thank God!” Grayson said.

“I’m the one that knows her,” Anna replied, then continued, “I
used to go to church with her. You know the crazy Pentecostal church
where them members must dress a certain way, can’t drive cars, can’t own
cell phones and other crazy rules. My boyfriend rescued me from that
church and my abusive parents and that is why that woman would want to
harm him. She beat me, too, when I was younger.”

“I’ve know all about that church. One of the members is a cook in the deli. Other members shop in here all the
time, I cringe whenever I have to wait on one of them.” He paused then
said, “If I could have any job, I’d be a writer, but I cannot get my
foot in the door and I have to take care of my girlfriend, so I keep this
job.”

“I once wrote a story about a young couple like that, where the
young guy keeps a God awful job so he can take care of his girlfriend,”
Anna said.

“And I once wrote a story about a couple very similar to both of
you, where a young man rescues a young lady from an abusive church. In
fact, that is the main reason why I wanted to help you two,” The stocker
replied.

“Do you read your stories to your girlfriend?” Grayson asked.

“Of course I do and she loves them.”

“Anna reads her stories to me as well.”

“Do you like it when she reads them to you?”

“Absolutely. She is a literary genius. I mean, if her stories can
keep the full attention of a simple dockyard mechanic like me, she must be doing
something right.”

“Oh, Grayson, you’re making me blush!” Anna said.

“My girlfriend tells me that too, all the time. She usually says
afterwards though that it is a wonderful feeling. In fact she is so cute
when she blushes. I love her so much and I am so blessed to have her in
my life.”

“You said ‘blessed’ instead of ‘lucky.’ Tell me are you a
Christian?” Anna asked.

“I am. But I could be so much better than where I am now.”

“Well so could we, but remember we’re not perfect, just forgiven.”

“What about your girlfriend; is she saved?” Grayson asked.

“I’m not sure.”

“Try to talk about it with her gently. If you love her, then
you’ll want her to be saved as well.” Anna added in.

“Okay, I will tell her. But if she rejects The Gospel, which I
fervently pray she won’t, I will still want her and I don’t care if I am
unequally yoked because I love her that much.”

“We’ll definitely pray for you and for her,” Grayson said.

“Maybe there could be a double wedding, Grayson and I along with
you and your girlfriend.” Anna said.

“I’ll have to buy her a ring, which I don’t make enough money to
buy one. She always says that her dad can help me become successfully
published,” The stocker replied.

“Well, either which way, let’s all keep in touch. I figure you and
I could be friends and Anna and your girlfriend could be friends. What
is your name, anyway?”

“That awful woman has left the premises. Both of you can safely
resume your shopping.”

“Thank you for protecting us,” Grayson said.

“It was my pleasure. Better than stocking dry goods all day and
into the night.”

He then escorted Grayson and Anna back onto the sales floor, then
shook both their hands.
************************************************************************************
As they drove back to the cabin, Anna said, “I hope the dinner
comes out right. It was pretty good in FACS class.”

“I think you’ll do fine and if not, I’ll just get us take out of
some kind.”

“You’re so sweet, Grayson. Most of the men at my church beat their
wives if they ruin dinner.”

“Anna, not only do I love you, I also revere you, and would never
do such a thing,” Grayson soberly replied.

“Both my parents beat me and other church members beat me in the
past as well.”

“As long as I can help it they never will again. If they do,
though I have something in the storage box of my truck and something else
in my nightstand drawer to deal with them.”

“You don’t know how they would retaliate though and they would
probably have you arrested too.”

“Why can’t they just leave you alone?”

“It’s because they love power, not God. They especially love power
over other people and when they lose any amount of that power, they get
very vengeful.”

“Should we be worried then?”

“I am very worried about what stunts could be pulled. But I love
you and would rather be with you, no matter what drama happens.”

“I love you too, Anna and if I wasn’t driving on a major
thoroughfare, I’d kiss you.”

“I can kiss you though.”

Anna pecked Grayson multiple times on his bearded cheek, then she
rested her head on his shoulder until they arrived at his cabin. Grayson
got out of his truck, then helped Anna out of it as well. Afterwards
they took the groceries and walked into Grayson’s kitchen.

Grayson then asked Anna, “Would you like me to help you prepare
dinner?”

“That would be nice. Most of the men at the church I used to go to
would sit in their recliners and demand that their wives prepare dinner
without lifting finger.”

“I don’t ever want to be like them. What can I do to help?”
************************************************************************************
As Anna saw the blue flame ignite, she said, “When we lived in the
city, we had a gas stove. I had forgotten how easy it is to cook on
one.”

“Yes. I subscribe to gas for my water heater and stove.”

“Well there is an electric stove in my parents’ trailer and not
only does it take forever to get hot, half the burners don”t work.”

“Well for cooking and having hot water, I wanted gas, but for the
central heat and dryer, I wanted electric because electric models are easier to fix plus I don”t
have to worry about Carbon Monoxide poisoning.”

“You know how to fix your heater and dryer?”

“Yes. A friend of mine taught me.”

“How do you know him””

“He frequently comes to the dock yards where I work. He’s got a
lot of time on his hands because despite having two trade school diplomas
can’t get a job to save his life.”

“How come?”

“He’s got mental issues like me but worse off to where his
condition definitely requires medicine. The medicine he takes disqualifies him from
just about every job worth taking, so he’s able to get disability, thank
God.”

“How old is he?”

“I think he made thirty this year. Why do you ask?”

“Because, I have a female cousin who is like that, maybe they would
make a nice couple. She lives in the city and is twenty tree years old.”

“Would her parents act like yours?”

“No. In fact when my parents told Darryl Crockett about her, he
said she was demon possessed. They then tried to convince her parents to
take her off her medication. When her parents listened to the psychiatrist
instead of demanding a miracle from God, Darryl Crocket forced us not
to talk to that part of the family anymore. It’s a shame because I really miss them..”

“Well now that you have a smart-phone, maybe you could look them up
on Facebook.”

“Yes. Maybe I’ll friend suggest my cousin and your friend to be
friends on there as well. What is his name?”

“Aron Mahler. You realize he was recently divorced. Maybe she wouldn’t
want him.”

“I think it would be all right. From what I heard she was engaged,
but to someone who constantly two timed her. Would he do that to her?”

“I doubt it with all my being. He was cheated on as well because he couldn’t properly provide for his wife. But then again she wanted more than he could afford. What is her name?”

“Ilyssa Gilbert.”

“And she wouldn’t think he is too old for her?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Okay because he has been hurt enough in his life.”

“She wouldn’t hurt him, she just wants to be loved.”
************************************************************************************
Grayson threw his arms around her and said, “Let’s go sit on my front porch swing and watch the sun rise.”

Anna kissed him and said, “I’d like that.”

So they stepped out on the front porch and sat down on the swing.

It was slightly chilly in the early morning air, so they sat very close to each other, trying to keep warm.

The sun was slowly coming up and Anna said, “It’s so beautiful.”

“That’s because the sun is shining on you and is getting inspiration as it illuminates your beautiful face!”

Anna kissed Grayson’s cheek as they sat in a blissfull silence.

After the sun was fully up the temperature became a little warm, so they walked back into Grayson’s cabin.

Anna said, “These past few days have definitely inspired me to write many things.”

Grayson pulled up his swivel chair and replied, “Well here, use my computer and write. I cannot wait to see what you come up with.”

Meanwhile, at the Pentecostal Assemblies Church, gossip was going non stop and everyone was wondering what Darryl Crocket would be preaching about.

All of the congregation, including Anna’s parents were taking their seats and Darryl Crocket was walking up to the pulpit.

With a microphone in hand, he began to speak, “Folks, we live in some very sinful times. Last Friday, a member of my own flock has left the church to go live with some sissy heathen. I witnessed this first hand that evening in the mall. I was shopping for a new suit, when I saw our own Anna Ryan shopping for sinful underclothes and making out with this very wicked young man, named Grayson Thomas. One of the older women in the auditorium fainted.” Darryl paused and then said, “It gets worse than that church: You see, I tried to talk Anna into coming with me, but she refused. This Grayson Thomas then threatened bodily harm to me and to also have me charged with kidnapping. I had no choice but to back down. However, we need to develop a strategy to take Grayson out of the equation and get Anna back, no matter how much force is needed.”

“Amens” were shouted throughout the auditorium.

“Does anyone know how we could be able to rid ourselves of Grayson and get Anna back to this church?” Darryl Crocket asked.

A young man spoke up, “I work with that heathen in the dock yards. He has an easy mechanic’s job, while I have to bust my butt every day as a rostabout. Maybe I could somehow get him fatally injured on the job and make it look like an accident. We would be doing the Lord’s work by taking Anna back and sending that heathen straight to hell where he belongs.”

Several “Amens” were shouted throughout the auditorium a second time.

An older man said “Here’s what you need to do: Sabotage the dock crane’s motor, way at the top, then call up the foreman to put in a repair order. Once Grayson Thomas comes to repair the crane, offer to assist him and go up there. He will definitely need a helper in order to do his job. Once both of you are up there, you can do something to make him fall which will either kill him or at least make him permanently disabled to where he won’t be a lover to Anna ever.”

Once again, several “Amens” were shouted throughout the auditorium.

The service then went on for several more hours with the congregation further elaborating the details of their plan.

Meanwhile, back at Grayson’s cabin, Anna was finishing up on her fantasy. She saved it to her flash drives as well as Grayson’s hard drive.

Grayson and Anna ate breakfast of scrambled eggs, pork sizzlers and bacon together then she read her latest story to him.

Both were smiling and blushing and soon were full of affectionate emotions.

“I wrote this because I am so much in love with you Grayson.”

“I was so touched by it. It makes me long for not just your beautiful body, but your heart as well.”

“You already have my heart Grayson and if God allowed it, you would have my body as well, believe me.”

“I don’t want to offend The Lord, but I could give myself to you as well, Anna.”

They began to kiss passionately and were soon on their way to the bedroom, when the phone rang…

Grayson saw that it was his mom’s house number, so he went to answer it.

“Hello.”

“Hey. I would like to make a Sunday dinner for Anna, so can you ask her what she would like and I’ll make it.”

“Hold on just a second.”

Grayson covered the mouthpiece of his handset and asked Anna, “My mom would like to cook a Sunday dinner for you and will fix anything you ask, so what would you like?”

Anna replied, “Some chicken fried pork chops and steamed green beans would be nice. I could even help her cook them.”

We then walk out my front door and I engage the deadbolt. We walk across my porch, then down the steps, through my yard and then onto the sidewalk. I lock the gate of my hurricane fence and we head out to the apartment complex by the light of my flashlight. It’s very warm this morning and the wind is eerily still. I silently ponder to myself if this is the calm before the storm.

We continue on to the apartment complex and Annabelle finally says, “I’m sorry if I rushed you earlier, bae, I’m just nervous about how my mom and her boyfriend will react when they see me walk in.”

“I wish there was something I could do.”

“Just be there for me.”

“Of course. You know I’m not going anywhere, well maybe except to Melinda’s Superstore,” I say, then kiss her forehead.

Annabelle giggles, then sweetly tells me, “I’m so glad to have you in my life, Johnny!”

“I’m glad to have you too, Annabelle!”

She smiles brightly then wraps me in a strong hug. I rub her love handles. We kiss each other wildly beneath the glow of a street lamp. She rubs my hairy chest with her soft hands and I pet her head. A car passes by and honks at us. We are both startled.

Annabelle asks me, “What time is it now?”

I activate the lime green LED light on my watch and quote the time, “It’s 5:51.”

“We need to hurry then,” Annabelle says.

Hand in hand we walk to the apartment complex and up to her mother’s unit.

She gives me a hug and a kiss then says, “I’ll call you as soon as I get out of school.”

“Sure thing, bae.”

“Yes, I always wanted someone to call bae and also call me bae! But, I didn’t think he’d be as sweet or cute as you.”

“We’ll always be bae to each other, I promise!”

We kiss each other goodbye once more and I head back to my house.

When I arrive, I look at my watch which says “6:02.”

I realize that Melinda’s is now open so I unlock the deadbolt, enter my front door, get my Helping Hand Deluxe shopping cart out of my utility room then walk out the front door again and engage the deadbolt. Then I walk down my steps, through my yard, and to the sidewalk and lock my hurricane fence. The sun is starting to come up so I turn off my Mini Maglite.

I walk the block and into Melinda’s. The automatic doors slide wide open and I am hit with a blast of cool air.

The store director says, “Good morning Johnny, you’re early today.”

“Good morning. I’m coming get some hurricane supplies, just in case Alidore makes his way here.”

“I expect to see plenty others coming for the same thing, so it’s a good thing you came early.

I walk to the merchandise section and I get some more AA batteries for my Mini Maglite. Then I see a display of Life Gear Mini Pro 40L LED flashlights. I have read LEDs never need replacing, last longer on a set of batteries and are much brighter. Not to mention these flashlights take cheaper AAA batteries instead of AA. So I get a pink one for Annabelle and a blue one for me. I also get extra AAA batteries for these lights. Then I see a Life Gear Glow Spot LED floating lantern, so I place it in my shopping cart as well. Finally, I get some wing nuts. Afterwards, I go to the soft drink aisle and grab a twelve pack of store brand creme soda, a twelve pack of store brand cherry cola and a twelve pack of store brand lemonade. Next, I get several Gallon jugs of drinking water. Then I go to the dry goods aisle and buy a box of Twinkies, a case of Vienna Sausage, a jar of Jif peanut butter and a loaf of store brand sliced bread.

Finally, I walk to a register and place the items on the conveyor belt.

“Getting ready for Alidore,” The cashier asks me.

“Yes,” I reply.

“Where’s your girlfriend?”

“Going to school.”

The cashier then looks puzzled then asks, “She isn’t underage, is she?”

“No, she made eighteen last month,” I reply, then continue, “Believe me, I wouldn’t mess with jail-bait. I got enough strikes against me and the last thing I need is a criminal record.”

She then scans my items and sees the pink Life Gear flashlight, smiles and asks, “Are you getting this for her?”

“Yes and the blue one is for me,” I show her my old Mini Maglite, then say, “I think it’s time for an upgrade, look how beat up this one is. It still works though.”

“I think I’ll get one for me and one for my husband too. He’s special needs, so I am driving us out of the city as soon as my shift ends.”

“Where are you going to?”

“Just as far inland as possible, hopefully, there will be a shelter we can find,” She pauses and then asks, “Where are you and your girlfriend going?”

“We’re just going to sit it out at my house.”

“We would sit it out too, but my husband is on Oxygen, so we need to be near an electrical source.”

“I’ll pray for you and your husband then.”

“Thank you, Johnny!”

She finishes scanning my items then charges them to my revolving account. Afterwards, she places them in my cart and I get some cafe’ au lait in the food court. I sit leisurely and sip my blend coffee, chicory, and hot milk because I know the next few hours will be hectic.

After a while, I look at my watch. It indicates “7:17.” So, with that, I head out of the store with my purchases.

The sun is now completely up and it is much warmer, but still eerily calm. I walk the block then unlock my hurricane fence and enter my yard.

While walking across my yard, Mrs. Angela stands by the fence and asks me, “How did it go with you and Annabelle?”

“Let me pick up my stuff and I’ll come over and tell you all about it.”

“Oh, I can’t wait to hear!”

I then walk up my steps onto my porch and unlock my deadbolt, then walk through my living room, into the kitchen and place the soft drinks and bottled water in my old refrigerator, the bread, Twinkies and Vienna Sausage in my cabinets. Then I place the flashlights, batteries, and lantern on my bed. I leave my house and walk over to Mrs. Angela’s. There is a city truck parked against the curb in front of her house. I wonder who is there.

So I walk into her yard, walk up her steps and knock on her door.

“Hello there, Johnny.”

“Hi, Mrs. Angela. Why is there a city truck here is everything okay?”

“That’s my son’s work truck-he’s a firefighter.”

Suddenly I hear a man’s voice, “I’m not a firefighter, Ma, I am a fleet mechanic for the fire department.”

“Well, you’re still on the team.”

Her son then comes walking out of her utility room.

“Hi, I’m Roger Fulton. What’s your name?”

“Johnny Elder, I live next door.”

Mrs. Angela looks at Roger and says, “Johnny always looks out for me and helps me out a lot.”

“Well, I’m glad you help my momma because I always have to work.”

Mrs. Angela then looks at me and asks, “So what’s going on with you and Annabelle?”

“Well, let’s put it this way: I’m sure glad you set us up.”

“See, aren’t you glad you gave it a try?”

“Most definitely.”

Mrs. Angela smiles, then says, “Be sure to always treat her right and make her feel special. If you do, she’ll bring you plenty of joy.”

Roger then says, “Ma, I’m going to try and hook up your new generator.” He then goes outside.

“Okay, son,” Mrs. Angela replies.

I look at her and say, “I have to put up the boards on my windows.”

“Don’t do it alone. You don’t want to mess up your back any worse than it is. I mean, how could you be a lover to Annabelle then?”

I blush and say, “You’re right. But who would help me?”

“I can get Roger to help you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, especially if you can help him get my generator hooked up. I mean you were an electrician, right?”

“Well I was an electrician’s helper and almost became an electrician, but I do know a thing or two.”

“Good. Then go help him.”

“Sure.”

I see Roger standing on the outside of the house with a frustrated look on his face.

“Do you need help,” I ask him.

“Yes, I know all about the engine itself, but wiring it is another story.”

“Let me try.”

“But I don’t think you would know how.”

“I was an electrician’s helper for five years and almost became a licensed electrician. I can try.”

“Okay. Have at it.”

I look at the wires and the switch panel and begin to match them correctly.

I begin to connect the wires as I say, “Bending over to work like this really hurts my back. I injured it in a fall while working. If it wasn’t for that, I’d probably be a fine electrician by now,” I tell Roger.

“That’s a shame, man because you appear to know what you’re doing,” Roger replies.

With sharp pain, I keep working and I finally I get it wired.

“Now, let’s test it,” I say, catching my breath.

“All right, let’s see if you did this right.”

Roger walks inside and says, “Ma, I’m going to try out the generator. If the power goes out, that’s why.”

“Okay, son.”

Roger disconnects the line current. A half-minute later the generator starts up. Roger and I high-five each other. The lights are back on at Mrs. Angela’s house.

We then switch back to the grid current and the generator stops. Roger and I walk back into Mrs. Angela’s front door.

She looks at Roger and asks him, “Could you help, Johnny board up his windows after you do mine? He injured his back and I don’t want him to ruin it more, especially now since he has a girlfriend.”

Both Roger and I blush, but then he says, “Sure thing, Ma.”

“Roger, I’ll help you board up your mother’s house, too. I’ll hand you whatever small pieces I can, like the fasteners.”

“Good deal,” Roger says.

With that, we get to work.

Roger lifts all the boards from Mrs. Angela’s shed and also gets her ladder. He hands me an old medication vile filled with the wingnuts and says, “Hold this and follow me.”

He then climbs up the ladder securing the boards to the bolts, then I hand him a wing nut for each bolt. We do this process until all the windows are covered.

Afterwards, we walk to my house and I unlock the hurricane fence. We cross my yard then go up the steps onto my porch and I unlock my deadbolt.

We enter my house and I then tell Roger, “My boards are in the utility room. So is my ladder.”

Roger takes the boards and places them in my yard. Then he gets the ladder. I open the pack of wingnuts I just purchased from Melinda’s and we get to work.

Just like on Mrs. Angela’s house, Roger secures the boards onto the bolts and I hand him the wingnuts. Soon enough, we are finished.

I look at my watch. It’s now “9:58.”

Roger then says, “It was nice meeting you, Johnny. Look out for my momma, because I have to go to work. The fleet needs to be in tip-top shape since a hurricane is coming right for this city.”

I tell Roger, “Before you go, I have a gift for you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a Proto Black Hawk ratchet and socket set. I’m no longer working nor do I have a car, so I have no use for it. I think it would be perfect for you since you’re a mechanic.”

I go into my utility room, get the set and hand it to him.

“Wow, man! Thanks,” Roger says.

“It’s the least I could do for you helping me board up my house.”

“Well, I’ll always help you board up your house from now on since you gave me this awesome toolset.”

He then walks to Mrs. Angela’s house, kisses her goodbye, then gets in his truck and goes to work.

Mrs. Angela then walks to her car and says, “I’m going to the pharmacy at Melinda’s and get all my medications filled. Then I want to watch ‘The Young and the Restless’ when I get back.

“Be careful and let me know if you need anything,” I tell her.

I go inside. My house is almost totally dark since all the windows are covered. I turn on my T.V. adjust the antennas and scan the channels. One of the local news stations is doing a bulletin on Hurricane Alidore.

I sit on my sofa and watch.

They are saying how a Hurricane Warning will likely be issued for the city in a few hours. I’m sure glad I prepared quickly and got everything done. It is still sunny outside and the winds are still, but I know this must be the calm before the storm. I continue watching. After the news broadcast is over, The Price is Right comes on, already in progress. I go to my computer and begin to backup all of my important files to both a CD and two backup flash drives. Afterwards, I unplug my computer because I don’t want it to be ruined by a lightning strike from the storm.

I then open up the LED floating lantern and test it out. This lantern lights up the whole room nicely. I notice how it has waterproof storage space, so I place my flash drives, my old Mini Maglite and my Klein Electrician knife inside and close it up. Afterwards, I turn it off and loop my belt through the handle.

I sit for a little while on the sofa and suddenly realize I’m bored in this house with no computer.

So, I step outside on my porch when Mrs. Angela shouts from her yard, “Johnny, can you come over and fix my T.V. set?”

Hurriedly, I walk over and she says, “Why isn’t ‘The Young and the Restless’ playing? Am I on the wrong channel?”

I check her antennas and pull up the guide feature. It says CBS and that ‘The Young and the Restless’ is on at this hour.

I then realize what is wrong, so I tell her, “The news team interrupted your show because of Hurricane Alidore. They interrupted ‘The Price is Right’ as well.”

“That really irritates me,” She says, “I’ve been hearing about this storm for days now. Does the media have to cram it down our throats? I mean isn’t that what the weather radio is for, right? One of the few things I have left to look forward to is my stories.”

Suddenly, ‘The Young and the Restless’ comes back on.

Mrs. Angela says, “Thanks for helping me, Johnny.” She pauses, then asks, “Are you going to see Annabelle again today?”

“Yes, as soon as she gets off the bus.”

“Wonderful. Now, remember what I said about treating her right and making her feel special.”

I nod, then I go back home.

After sitting there for a few minutes, I get the urge to write something.

Since my computer is unplugged, I get a composition book and pen from my desk then walk out my front door, engaging the deadbolt, walk across my porch, down the steps, and out my yard. I lock the gate of my hurricane fence and head to the park. I think about Annabelle during my walk. When I enter the park, I sit on a bench and write a new story, with characters based on me and her. Now, I am getting to the good part.

I continue to write for hours until my phone rings. It’s Annabelle calling. Hurriedly, I answer.

“Hello.”

“Oh, bae, I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too.”

“What are you doing right now?”

“I’m sitting in the park writing a new story.”

“I can’t wait to read it.”

“It’s about us; I just hope you’ll like it.”

“I just boarded the bus and I will be at the apartment complex in about forty-five minutes. I don’t have any homework this weekend and will probably be off Monday as well, so I’m taking my things and staying with you if that’s all right with you.”

“Of course it’s all right. In fact, it’s wonderful. How did your mom react this morning when you came to her apartment?”

“She was super mad and demanded to know where I was. I told her that it was none of her business and that I was eighteen and I didn’t have to answer to her anymore, especially since she abandoned me in the parking lot. She was speechless after that, so I got dressed and left for school.”

“I wish I could somehow make it better for you where that is concerned.”

“Just be there for me, that’s the best thing you can do.”

“Well of course.”

“I’m glad to have you, Johnny!”

“And I’m just as glad to have you, Annabelle!”

There is a sudden silence but then I ask her, “Were you able to turn in your paper?”

“Yes. Since Alidore is coming, the deadline was extended, but I’m getting extra points for turning it in on time.”

“That’s awesome!”

“It will be even more awesome now that I can graduate!”

We continue to talk and flirt on the phone until Annabelle says, “Why don’t you start making your way to the apartment complex, my bus is almost there.”

“Will do,” I reply.

“Then I guess I’ll see you there, bae.”

We then hang up. I close my composition book and start walking to the bus stop at the apartment complex.

I arrive just as the bus is pulling up. Annabelle steps off, then embraces me. We share a strong kiss.

She then says, “Wait out here while I get my things.”

“Will do, bae,” I reply.

She kisses me once more and says, “Be right back!” in a very sexy voice.

I wait with anticipation and look at my watch. The time is “3:24.”

I continue to wait as I hear shouting from several different people.

Finally, I see her walking to the bus stop with two bags in addition to her school bag and purse.

My watch now indicates that it is “3:36.”

I offer to carry them for her, to which she kisses me. Doing so hurts my back tremendously, but for her, it’s worth it. I collapse under the weight of her bags.

She helps me up and says, “I’m sorry, bae. I didn’t realize your back was damaged that badly.” Annabelle pauses then says, “I’ll carry them, you don’t have to.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I don’t want you to be hurt any worse, especially because of me.”

“I hate you seeing me like this. I’m afraid you’ll leave me now that you see how bad my disability is.”

“I won’t leave you because I see how wonderful you truly are. Your back may be in bad shape but you have such a good heart.”

I stand back up and Annabelle hugs me. She then kisses me. A motorist drives by and sounds his horn. Annabelle flips him off, then picks up her bags.

She holds my hand as we begin to walk.

We make it back to my house. I unlock the hurricane fence, then we walk across my yard, up my steps, onto my porch and I unlock the deadbolt. We then go to my bedroom and sit on the bed.

I remember what I bought for her and say, “I have a gift for you, bae. I hope you like it.”

“What is it,” She asks.

“A bright LED flashlight, pink in color,” I say, then hand her the blister packaging.

“Cool, I guess.”

“I needed a couple of flashlights since Hurricane Alidore is coming here, so I got me a blue one and you a pink one.”

“Well thank you bae, I like it,” She says with a hug and a kiss.

I then open the packaging on both of them, with a kitchen knife. Afterwards, I install the batteries in their carriages then I put mine in my pocket and Annabelle puts hers in her purse.

Annabelle then asks me, “Could you read me the story you were working on in the park?”

“Yes. I would like to do that.” I tell her, then retrieve my composition book. I start to read when I hear my weather radio go off in the kitchen. At the same time, Annabelle’s Samsung Galaxy Express 3 also sounds an alert. We get messages of a Hurricane Warning and that conditions will deteriorate within twenty-four hours.

Annabelle becomes very nervous and tears fill her eyes.

I hold her hand and say, “I cannot promise that everything will be okay, but I will do my damn well best to take care of you.”

“Thank you, Johnny. I’m so glad to have you.” She tells me with a kiss.

“And I’m just as glad to have you!” I tell her with a kiss in return.

“Why don’t I get dinner started? I’ll cook the last frozen bags of cooked white beans in my freezer, so I don’t lose them when the current goes out. It’s a Friday anyway and I always eat white beans on a Friday.”

Annabelle nods and smiles, then we walk into my kitchen.

I take several freezer bags of white beans and empty them into my big pot. Then I light my gas range and begin to heat up the food.

Annabelle and I stand in the kitchen, staring lovingly into each others’ eyes. We hold each other and share a passionate kiss. Soon we share multiple kisses.

There’s an awkward but blissful silence between us.

Soon the beans are done, so I get us each a bowl from the cabinet and serve us. I pour some store brand pancake syrup on our white beans to give them flavor and we eat happily.

Afterwards, we do the dishes and then go watch the T.V. All of the prime time programs are interrupted by reports about the approaching Hurricane Alidore.

We decide to watch Breaking Dawn, Part One and Part Two on DVD and fall asleep in each other’s arms on the sofa until the next morning…

It is heavily based on my childhood and told from the perspective of me at age five, which would mean it takes place in the year 1992.

I initially wrote most of it in the Summer of 2016, but recently did some editing and now I feel as if I’m ready to share it with the world.

Without further ado, here we go:

I arrive at my grandparents’ house and they welcome me with open arms.

My grandma offers me breakfast: oatmeal with hot syrup.

My grandpa sits at the table with me.

Suddenly he sneezes very loudly, “HYEH-HOO!” My grandma jumps out of fright. I just laugh. She then gives him a dirty look and he rubs my head. I finish eating my breakfast and then look out the front door. The mail truck is coming in the distance. I watch. Finally, it is near my grandparents’ mailbox and the mailman puts several letters in.

“I’m going get the mail,” My grandpa says.

“Our Social Security checks should be in today, honey.” My grandma replies.

We walk to the mailbox and my grandpa picks up the mail then we walk back to the house.

“Yes, our checks are in. I’ll go to the bank and cash them,” He says, handing her the rest of the mail.

My grandma opens the envelopes, signs her check then says, “After that go to the hardware store and get a new light fixture for the utility room. ”

I look at my grandpa and ask “Can I come with you?”

“Sure,” He replies.

“Get our medicine from the drug store too, honey,”

“Yes, ma’am.” He answers.

My grandma gives him another dirty look.

We then walk to his old truck and he starts it. The engine makes a loud noise and then we take off.

As we are driving down the road there is a car in front of us going super slow. My grandpa blows his horn and shouts, “Come on you turtle!”

I laugh.

“If your grandma saw me acting like that she would fuss, so don’t tell her what I just did.”

I nod my head and grin.

We go through the drive up window at the bank. My grandpa signs his check and also hands my grandma’s check to the teller. She then hands him a lot of money, then she also gives me some candy.

My grandpa leaves the bank and I eat. “Don’t tell your grandma I let you have candy,” He tells me.

I motion as if I am zipping my lips and he smiles.

We arrive at the hardware store and my grandpa parks his truck. We walk through the store and into the electrical department. I stare at all the lights on display.

“How is this one?” He asks.

“It looks cool to me,” I reply, then continue “Could I help you put it up?”

“Sure!” My grandpa replies, “I do need a helper and you’re perfect for the job.”

My grandpa picks up the light, still in its package and then we walk to the counter.

He pays the check out lady.

She prints some papers and hands them and the light to my grandpa, then we leave the store.

We get back in his truck. He starts it and the engine makes that loud noise again. I laugh.

“One day, when I am really old, this will be your truck, E.J.”

“Awesome!” I say.

We then drive to the drug store, then enter and both sit on a stool at the counter while the pharmacist gets the medicine.

She tells him the price and he hands her the cash.

“Boy, thank God for Medicare!” My grandpa tells her as he is handed several bags.

“What’s Medicare?” I ask.

“Something for old people like me and your grandma,” He replies.

Another old man walks up to my grandpa and they begin talking in French. I’m puzzled because I don’t know what they’re saying.

I look at my grandpa, point to the old man and ask, “Who’s that?”

“E. J., that’s Mister Cecil. We worked together at the factory.”

Mister Cecil looks at me and says “Your grandpa told us many jokes and made us laugh during those long shifts.”

“He makes me laugh too. What was his job at the factory?”

“He loaded the syrup we made into railroad cars and I was in charge of the piping system,” Mister Cecil replies.

“That’s awesome!” I say.

“We’d still be working there if it wasn’t for the factory closing,” My grandpa says.

“Well, you know durn good and well there were some dirty dealings going on,” Mister Cecil adds in.

“Yeah, but that was way beyond our control,” My grandpa answers.

They go back to talking in French for a while then finally shake hands and Mister Cecil leaves.

My grandpa and I leave the drug store as well.

He starts his truck and the engine makes that loud sound again.

We both laugh.

We head back to the house, then walk through the door.

We walk into the utility room and my grandpa opens the door to the broom closet. He gets his flashlight and tools out, then goes to the fuse box and turns off the electricity.

“Safety first-remember that, E.J.!” He tells me.

I nod and smile.

The house is dark, so he turns his flashlight on.

He takes a chair from the kitchen and brings it to the utility room. He then stands on top of it under the old light fixture.

“No your grandma is right, E. J. I don’t want you to hurt yourself. I just forget how young you are sometimes,” He pauses then says, “I’ll open it.”

He cuts through the package and takes out the new light, along with the wire nuts and fasteners.

“Now keep shining that flashlight E. J. and get me a screwdriver and cutting pliers.”

I hand him the tools. The old fixture soon comes down and grandpa puts the new one up. My grandpa then pulls the switch cord.

“All done!” He says, “Now shine some light on the fuse box, E. J.”

I shine it and he turns the electricity back on. The new fixture lights up the utility room brightly.

“Now turn my flashlight off E. J.”

Reluctantly I turn it off and say, “Aw shucks.”

“Now, E.J., I need to conserve the battery. You never know when a big storm will come.”

“I guess you’re right grandpa. I just think your flashlight is so cool!”

My grandpa looks at my grandma and says, “Now, hopefully, the next time that fixture needs to be replaced E. J. will be a grown man and he can do it for us.”

“He better finish college first,” My grandma says sternly, then continues, “Since the power is back on, I’m going to watch my stories while I do some cooking and sewing.”

“Well I’m going work in the garden,” My grandpa says.

“I’m coming with you,” I tell him.

We pick green beans, corn, okra, and tomatoes until I see a raccoon coming into the garden.

“Look, grandpa, a raccoon.”

“E. J., get inside right now!” My grandpa says with urgency.

I go, but watch and listen through the screen door.

My grandpa chases the raccoon clapping his hands several times while stomping his foot and shouting “Get. Gone. Get outta here.” The dog begins to bark. Finally, the raccoon runs away. I laugh until my sides ache.

“All right E. J. you can come back now,” He says, then continues “Never go near a raccoon, they’re vicious and they carry rabies.”

I nod and keep a sharp eye looking for more raccoons. Thankfully no more show up.

My grandpa continues working in his garden until we hear my grandma shout, “Dinner’s ready.”

We walk back to the house.

“What are we having?” I ask.

“Green beans and potatoes.” My grandma answers.

“Yuck!” I say.

“Well if you don’t want that, you can have a can of Vienna Sausage,” My grandpa answers.

My grandma gives my grandpa a pair of eyes.

“What the matter now, honey?” He asks her.

“You should know very well that Vienna Sausage isn’t good for him,” She answers.

“Oh, doggone it, let him enjoy that whiles he’s young. He won’t be able to eat that kind of stuff when he’s old like us.”

“I guess, honey. But you know his parents want him to eat healthy food,” She replies.

“We don’t have to tell them about it. Besides what will one little can hurt?” My grandpa says as he opens the can and hands the sausages to me.

We all sit down to eat.

My grandparents take their medicines during dinner. They pop several pills and wash them down with Royal Crown Cola.

I drink Cherry Kool-Aid to wash down my Vienna Sausages.

“One day I want you to try green beans, though, E.J. They taste good and they’re good for you,” My grandpa says.

“Okay, I’ll try them one day when I am all grown up.”

My grandma says, “Hopefully before then.”

“Better late than never.” My grandpa says.

After we eat my grandpa takes me in his truck and we ride through the fields. He checks his cattle and the fencing around the property.

He works on the fence and I watch until the sun begins to set. We then head back to the house.

We walk up the back porch and into the door. My grandpa washes his hands in the kitchen sink, then shakes them dry. I stand on a chair and do the same.

“E.J., use a towel instead.” My grandma says with irritation.

My grandpa then begins to scratch his back on the doorpost.

I smile, then go across the room and scratch my back on the other doorpost.

My grandpa then lets out a loud sneeze, “HYEH-HOO!”

I laugh, then say, “I’m going to sneeze like that too from now on!”

My grandma says angrily at me “Don’t you dare E.J.!” She then looks at my grandpa and says, “You see that honey, E. J. is picking up all of your bad habits.”

“That’s because he’s my flesh and blood,” My grandpa answers proudly.

“But he starts school in a few weeks and we can’t have him acting like that in the classroom.”

My grandpa pokes his tongue at my grandma and then asks, “What’s for supper?”

“Homemade bread and coffee. But E.J. will have hot milk instead, we can’t have him up all hours of the night. So, don’t give him any.”

“Yes, ma’am!” My grandpa answers her.

“Aw shucks,” I say.

She gives him a dirty look, then we eat. My grandparents take their nighttime medication.

After supper, we watch the television for a little while.

The news is on.

Suddenly we hear the dog barking and the cows mooing incessantly.

My grandpa retrieves his flashlight and turns it on.

“I’m going see what’s going on outside,” My grandpa says.

“I want to go too and see grandpa’s flashlight light up the night.”

“No, E. J. you need to get to bed,” My grandma says.

“Aw shucks!” I reply.

“Now, E.J.!” My grandma orders.

My grandpa goes outside. I hear his truck start up, then reluctantly I go lay down in the spare bedroom and soon fall asleep.

I guess I’ve been asleep for a while, but then, suddenly I’m woken up by the screen door opening and shutting. Then I hear a loud “HYEH-HOO!” I laugh to myself and realize that my grandpa is back.

I get out of bed and walk into the living room.

“What happened outside?” I ask.

“One of my heifers got stuck in the barbed wire fence.”

I see him picking up his flashlight and then ask, “Could I play with it for a little while?”

“Sure.” He says.

“Yes!” I reply.

I shine it all over the room, on walls, windows and pictures then I notice some writing on the flashlight. I ask my grandpa “What does it say on the sides?”

“Eveready Commander.” He replies. “Eveready is the company and Commander is the model of the flashlight.”

“What does N o dot five one two two mean?”

“The No. means number which is fifty-one twenty-two.”

“What does it say below that?”

“Made in Hong Kong. That’s the city in China, where this flashlight was made.”

“Where’s that?”

“On the other side of the world. And, you know while it’s nighttime here, it’s daytime over there.”

“Cool!”

“And what does it say on the left back side?” I ask.

“Union Carbide-that’s the company that owned Eveready when this flashlight was made. And below it says New York, NY. In other words New York City in New York State. That’s where one of Union Carbide’s offices were located. The 5 numbers, one zero zero one seven is the zip code for that part of New York City,” My grandpa replies.

“Cool!”

My grandpa then looks at my grandma and says “You see that, honey, I’m teaching E.J. geography and how to read.”

“Teach him tomorrow; he needs to be in bed at this hour.” My grandma says.

I hang my head in disappointment.

My grandpa looks at me and says “Tell you what, if you go to sleep right now, you can have my flashlight. I worked many night shifts with it, loading syrup into tank cars, but it’s yours now. I’ll just buy a new one at the hardware store tomorrow.”

“You really mean it, grandpa?” I ask.

“Sure, so why don’t you get to bed.” He says.

“All right,” I reply, happily.

“You better not take it with you to school or your teacher will take it away.” My grandma interjects.

“Yes, that’s right. And we don’t want that to happen.” My grandpa replies.

I begin to get sleepy and they both hug me good night and I walk to my bed. Soon, I am fast asleep…

Target can be an excellent place for purchasing a gentleman’s EDC items.

Well, this statement was even more true years ago, but still is somewhat true even today.

I know, most people associate Target shoppers with upscale suburban women, but there are quite a few items in Target that are perfect for a gentleman.

However, as I previously mentioned, this was even more true years ago than today.

Many of my current and former EDC items were purchased at Target.

I don’t know if I am truly a gentleman or not. I try my durn well best to be one and I hope at least my girlfriend sees me as one.

Okay, enough about me.

The first time I shopped at a Target was in August of 2002. I was fifteen and almost three-quarters years old and one had recently been built in my metropolitan area.

My parents brought me along with my brother and sister to check the store out.

I was interested in what electronics were sold there and was a little impressed that they sold the Motorola FRS and GMRS radios, but they were all out of my price range.

Later that day we went to Wal Mart and I purchased a BellSouth 2231 FRS/GMRS transceiver for about $10. I had EDCed this radio, mostly because, I didn’t yet have a working cell phone to keep in touch with family and I also liked to communicate with the maintenance staff at my high school on there. In these days, I didn’t carry a knife or a flashlight, just a two-way radio, believe it or not.

Fast forward to Black Friday, November 29, 2002, my mom, my sister and I went to a few stores just to look around. The only other time I had seen my mom go shopping on Black Friday was in 1992 at Southland Mall. As much as my mom likes shopping, she hates to shop on Black Friday. I was looking around in the sporting goods section at Target and for the first time, I had seen a real Swiss Army Knife in real life. I saw a whole bunch of them, in fact. In those days, Target had a much wider selection of Swiss Army Knives than they currently do. And those sold at Target came bundled with equally useful accessories. More on that in a little bit. Prior to that, I had knock-offs of Swiss Army Knives, but they were all flimsy and dull. I didn’t purchase any that day, because I didn’t have enough money on me and my parents being overprotective would have not been happy if I bought a knife.

I also saw the Swiss backpacks and luggage sold there, but all of those were way out of my price range. I had a very rugged duffel bag which I would take with me whenever I could, so I wasn’t really in need of luggage at the time. This bag’s zipper busted on me sometime in 2007, though, so that is when I began trying different bags to carry my EDC items in.

Fast forward to the Summer of 2005, I had secured a job assisting the maintenance crew at my high school and the way I became friends with them was by talking to them over their radios!

I was eighteen and a half years old and had a good bit of disposable income with no bills, notes or rent to pay. Also since I was eighteen I could own a knife whether or not my parents wanted me to.

After work, many times I would shop at Target in the sporting goods sections. One day, in July of 2005, I purchased my first Swiss Army Knife, a Victorinox Sportsman. At some point, I had upgraded and gave it my best friend and I hope he still has it now.

Also in 2005, my interest in flashlights was coming back. Target had a wide selection of flashlights in their household section and many of them couldn’t be found anywhere else. There were many rugged, Aluminum pocket-sized flashlights sold there that weren’t sold elsewhere. There was Coast brand LED flashlights. There were Mini Maglites in all sorts of exotic colors as well as the standard colors. There were Inova (as in Emissive Energy Corporation, prior to the Nite Ize takeover) flashlights both in plastic and Aluminum that were the brightest LED flashlights at the time. There were also some unique brands such as Rock River or River Rock. Target does not have such a wide selection these days and I think it’s a shame. All of these would have been perfect EDC flashlights for a gentleman’s pocket

On the afternoon of January 27, 2006, I was shopping at my local Target and looking at Swiss Army Knives, which came bundled with very neat and equally useful accessories. The Super Tinker model came with a compact pair of Simmonds Binoculars. The Recruit ii came bundled with a Mini Maglite (which this is where I was initially inspired to pair a Swiss Army Knife with a Mini Maglite, as I believe all gentlemen should EDC these items together.) The Climber came bundled with some high-quality German-made Victorinox Scissors. That is what I had decided to purchase on that afternoon. The package sold for ~$30, but I know the knife alone was worth at least that and the scissors had to be worth another $35-$40, but they were free! My mom sometimes sews in her free time, so I knew these scissors would be perfect for her. I was 100% right too-she still uses them almost thirteen years later at the time I am writing this. In fact, she recently used them to fix the hem on my pants. I would misplace that knife a few days later, but then my mom found it again in December 2010. Since that time, I have kept it in a secure place because of its sentimental value.

In April of 2006, I had some cash given to me as Easter presents from family members, so I was in Target after school and saw an Inova Radiant 2 AA LED flashlight. At the time, Inova manufactured the most advanced LED flashlights or at least in my humble opinion. Also, they were American made, not like today. I still have this flashlight but unfortunately, it doesn’t work anymore. However, this flashlight did come in handy multiple times for the rest of high school and the beginning of trade school. I would sometimes EDC it if I knew I was going to a very dark area or needed a light with a longer run time.

In December of 2006, I purchased from Target a Victorinox Super Tinker with Simmonds Compact Binoculars. I still have both.

Sometime in 2006, Target cleared out all of these Swiss Army Knives with neat and useful accessories and this was a big mistake in my opinion.

In January of 2007, I purchased my first Blue Mini Maglite from Target, as my Black one was getting very beat up. I had it until I misplaced it at some point.

In February of 2009, I was shopping at a Super Target and purchased an Energizer 3 Watt Tactical LED flashlight. I had EDCed both on my job and in leisure time until I traded it to my best friend sometime in early 2010. I hope he still has it.

In July of 2009, I purchased my first Wenger SwissGear backpack until I upgraded with another in March of 2010 and again in September of 2011. All three were purchased at Target.

In March of 2015, I purchased another Energizer 185 Lumen Tactical LED flashlight at a Super Target on Clearance.

Around this time, Target began to stop selling some of the Tactical flashlights they once sold, another big mistake in my opinion.

A year later, in March of 2016, Target quit selling the Mini Maglites, which I was able to get a Silver one on Clearance, for about $4, which I keep in my glove box.

Also, in March of 2016, I ordered a Casio G-Shock Wristwatch, which I wore until June of 2018, but still have.

In April of 2016, I managed to purchase the Victorinox Recruit ii and Mini Maglite bundled together in mint condition on eBay, but this was previously sold at Target a decade before.

In the past two years, most of the flashlights sold at Target were only appropriate for a domestic setting, though there are a few exceptions. Also, their selection of Swiss Army Knives has very much dwindled.

However, the said retailer still carries some decent items that are geared towards gentleman.

For example, in February of 2017, I purchased a Coleman Illumilast 2AAA LED flashlight at a Super Target, which I EDC on and off and I even wrote a blog entry partially about. In November of 2017, I bought another Wenger SwissGear backpack, which I still use AND In December of 2017, I bought a Wenger SwissGear bifold wallet, which I also still use.

There are a few EDC items in the sporting goods section, such as an OutDoor Products tactical LED flashlight with a strike bezel, I purchased one in October of 2018 and currently EDC it, though the pocket clip broke off. Also, a couple of Gerber products are sold in the sporting goods section, such as a Gerber Dime Multitool.

So, Target COULD be a place for a gentleman to buy his EDC gear still but imagine how much better it could be if the retailer would start carrying more items designed for EDC.

I think the company has reasons why they don’t carry some of these items anymore, but my post will become political if I begin to elaborate why.

But how about making Target a place not only for ladies to shop but also for their husbands and boyfriends to come shopping with them and not being bored to tears?

NOTE: I do NOT own the featured image on this page, it is the property of NiteCore…

I am NOT an aviator by any stretch of the imagination.

I have only been on an aircraft four times and every time I was merely a passenger.

However, I am quite well rounded on the subject of flashlights as just about everyone who knows me is well aware of.

On this evening of November 16, 2018, I will write a review of the NiteCore MT20A LED flashlight and how I think it is the best aviation flashlight for the money.

I have owned one of these since January of 2018 and it is also featured in a short story I had wrote in February 2018. By the way, when I wrote that story, I had not yet been on an aircraft. No, it was composed and inspired strictly from my countless hours of researching flashlights.

I had purchased mine on eBay and I probably paid less than the MSRP, since the said website usually sells items for less than what they are suggested to sell for.

This flashlight only set me back $36.44 with free shipping. NiteCore’s website, to my knowledge, does not list an MSRP, but I would venture to guess it should cost no more than $50 brand new.

In other words, this flashlight should neither break the bank nor tie up too much of your credit line.

It is constructed of very durable Aerospace Aluminum, comes with a pocket clip as well as a lanyard, a ring, and a pouch. It features a forward clicky switch. The maximum light output of Turbo Mode 360 Lumens lasts for 1 hour and 45 minutes. The light settings can be set to lower outputs of High Mode 240 Lumens for 2 hours and 15 minutes, Mid Mode 120 Lumens for 5 hours and 45 minutes, Low Mode 17 Lumens for 24 hours and Ultra Low Mode 1 Lumen for 180 hours. In addition to those diverse light settings, it also has a dedicated red LED for preserving night vision. And not only that, there is a tactical strobe for self-defense, an SOS strobe for emergency location when summoning help and a red beacon mode for locating the flashlight in a dark room. Settings are changed by pressing buttons on the side of the light engine module to cycle through the different modes. The flashlight has an incredible memory and will always switch on to the mode it was last used in. It is impact resistant for a fall on concrete at a height of up to 1 Meter. It also has a waterproof rating of IPX-8, which means it can be submerged to a depth of 2 Meters. If you aren’t sold as of yet, might I add that this flashlight runs on two common, everyday AA Alkaline or NiMH batteries? This gives it a clear advantage over Sure Fire’s American made Aviator flashlights which run on those expensive and exotic CR123A batteries. In my opinion, this flashlight is the best flashlight and possibly product in general ever to come out of Mainland China-change my mind!

I have edced this flashlight on an off since January of 2018 and it has had a permanent residence in my Swiss Gear edc backpack when not on my person.

As I have said before, I am not an aviator by any stretch of the imagination, but I do think this is an ideal flashlight for all aviators and I will back up my claim in the following sentences:

First of all, Turbo Mode is ideal for preflight inspection of the aircraft. This setting should allow the user to find any defects in the aircraft’s body that need to be corrected prior to flight.

Also, the High Mode could be used for doing maintenance and repairs on the aircraft and the technician or pilot would be able to see all of the dark areas of the aircraft’s mechanical features.

Yet, Mid Mode could be used when walking at night to and from the hangar or airport lounge.

There’s more, Low Mode could be used for navigating around in an unfamiliar hotel room at night.

Ultra Low Mode could be used for reading your favorite literature or using the remote control without disturbing your roommate in the hotel room at night.

The dedicated red LED light feature is probably what makes this ideal for aviators more than anything else as it allows the pilot to read instruments and charts or perform minor cockpit repairs during a nighttime flight without degrading his or her night vision. That feature alone should sell the flashlight to any aviator out there in need of a flashlight!

The optional red LED Beacon Mode will allow the owner to quickly locate this flashlight even in the most cluttered of baggage.

Wait, there’s more, and these next features would prove indispensable should the something catastrophic happen:

The Tactical Strobe could help fight off a hijacker, by disorienting him or her. Also, the lanyard holes that recess on either side of the tail cap could do some damage to the hijacker’s face, eyes or teeth if struck hard enough, further disorienting him or her. A hard enough blow to the hijacker’s temple or windpipe could completely neutralize the situation. Take this advice at your own risk as the hijacker may also be a skilled fighter.

The SOS Strobe could be used in the case of a downed aircraft either on land or at sea (because it is waterproof) to identify your location to rescue crews on a dark night.

So, to all my aviator friends out there, I hope you all can see that this flashlight is a useful and equally budget-friendly option for your occupational illumination.

And not just aviators, but anyone who works in the transportation and logistics industries at night would quickly fall in love with the NiteCore MT20A.

This flashlight could also be ideal for boat and ship captains in the wheelhouse, for similar reasons, provided they keep it out of the engine room and away from any flammable cargo.

Long-haul truck drivers and locomotive engineers could also appreciate this flashlight for nighttime operations, again provided they keep it away from any flammable cargo and make durn sure to turn it off while refueling.

The only gripes I have about this flashlight are two and they are:

Why can’t the main LED be a Warm White, especially for inspection and maintenance purposes, but also for Medevac pilots to better examine patients?

AND

Why can’t American companies makes something like this in an American factory?

This therefore concludes my review of the NiteCore MT20A, I hope you, the reader, are now more informed on your flashlight purchasing options…

This is one of my Post Modern stories and probably the shortest as well as the least controversial. I initially wrote it in the early morning hours of April 16, 2018. I was inspired approximately a week before that, when I took a trip to Uptown New Orleans. It is about a young working poor couple riding out a severe thunderstorm and subsequent power failure in their shotgun house. When I initially wrote it, they were cohabitating and fornicating, but, earlier, a few weeks ago, The Lord got a hold of me and I took it down in July 2018. I’ve decided it was a beautiful enough story that I could take the sin out of there and rewrite them as a married couple, with minimal effort, so that is what I did on August 11, 2018.

Without further ado, here it is:

A cold front is making its way through our city and with it stormy weather.

There is plenty of showers, wind, and lightning associated with this squall line.

Because of this weather situation, I got rained out from my job at the plant and my wife is off from cleaning houses today anyway.

So, happy to have some time to ourselves we lie down in my bed.

I wrap my arms around her curvy waist as we listen to the rain tinkling on the tin roof of my shotgun house.

I kiss the back of her neck as she moans with pleasure.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning strikes the transformer that services my block and the power goes out.

I disconnected the gas-powered radiators when I bought my house and decided to use portable electric heaters instead, but now we have no heat.

It’s biting cold, especially for mid-November. Not to mention it is miserably damp.

We pull the thick blankets over ourselves and try best to keep warm.

I gently rub her love handles as we shiver.

She turns around wrapping her soft smooth arms and thick creamy legs around me.

We are very cold, but now the hunger pangs are setting in as well.

So, we step out of bed and get dressed, then I retrieve my Coleman LED lantern from the closet.

By the light of that lantern, we walk to the kitchen and I light my range, the only appliance in my house that still uses gas.

I slowly turn the knob on and strike a kitchen match.

The blue flame brightly glows in my dark kitchen.

With the lantern in hand, I walk to the pantry and get two packs of Ramen Noodles.

I retrieve two bowls and a kettle from my kitchen cabinet and draw some water into it from my kitchen tap.

Then, I place the dried noodle block in the bowls and the water-filled kettle on the lit burner.

We stand by the stove, clinging to each other for warmth.

Finally, we hear the kettle whistling.

I turn the burner off, then pour the boiling water into the bowls with noodles.

Immediately afterward I empty the powder from the flavor packets into the bowls and stir them.

I take a bowl and give the other one to her.

Happily, we eat.

After we eat, I turn on my weather radio which is operating on backup batteries and learn that the storms will last ‘throughout the night.’

She gives me a kiss and then says to me, giggling, “I know of something else that can last ‘throughout the night!”

I nod with a wide grin and kiss her in return.

Hand in hand we walk back to my bedroom and undress.

We adore each others’ bodies for just a moment, then passionately climb into my bed to make love as the storm rages on.

We climax multiple times until we are too sleepy to keep our eyes open.

Lovingly we fall asleep in each others’ arms.

In the morning, we wake to birds singing and bright sunbeams coming through the window above the bed.

We step out the door and sit together on the front porch swing in the crisp cool Autumn weather.

I have been a Mini Maglite owner since the evening of December 19, 2005. I was almost halfway through my senior year of high school when I purchased it.

I don’t think there is any other flashlight that I like more nor do I find more versatile.

Prior to that evening, I had been carrying small tactical flashlights on my person for the past seven months.

The school was about to let out for Christmas break so a friend and I were planning on a boating trip on Bayou Terrebonne the next day.

I was at the Wal Mart in Thibodaux, Louisiana, buying some supplies for that trip.

Hurricane Katrina was fresh in everyone’s mind and Maglite had partnered with the Red Cross to raise awareness for disaster preparedness.

Mini Maglites were on sale for less than $8. They came with batteries, extra bulbs, and a free Nylon holster.

I had assumed prior to this that Maglites were made in China, which was a very wrong assumption.

Still, something had caused me to take a closer look at the packaging and I had found out that it was American Made.

Right then and there, I decided to purchase it.

It would be my first of plenty of Mini Maglites.

After paying for the item, I drove home to Raceland, Louisiana and then set up my new flashlight.

Immediately, I was thoroughly impressed.

It was brighter than most LED flashlights of the time (remember this was 2005.) Not only was it brighter in terms of Lumens but also in Candlepower. Boy, could it throw a beam out! The beam travels very far at night in the marshlands of South Louisiana.

It was rugged, in fact, rugged enough to be considered tactical.

Truly this flashlight was and still is a pure genius design.

I had EDCed this flashlight for the rest of my senior year of high school and much into trade school.

I used to walk the halls during my off period, shining it in classrooms. Yes, I got written up for that and similar pranks during high school.

Since then I have purchased other Mini Maglites and the one I have had the longest was from August of 2006, it is in my Craftsman tool satchel.

I’ve had the Mini Maglite that I currently EDC with all of my computer tools since June of 2014.

The others that I have purchased are stored away in various locations, in case of an EMP attack on American soil. Simple incandescent flashlights will survive an EMP blast but I seriously think LED flashlights will perish.

Prior to me owning a Mini Maglite, my favorite flashlights from my childhood were the Garrity Mini Rugged Lite (R300G) and the Eveready Industrial 2AA model (IN-215.) Pocket-sized flashlights will always have a special place in my heart and have since I was seven years old.

What I like about the Mini Maglite:
It is definitely bright enough and its light beam gives excellent color rendition (great for medical professionals and tradespeople.)
It is delightfully rugged and durable-I’ve read stories of a Mini Maglite falling one hundred feet onto hard steel and still surviving.
It is remarkably simple to use, just a slight twist will turn it on or off.
It is surprisingly user serviceable-I’ve repaired mine several times but it is also covered by an extensive warranty.
It is totally waterproof to amazing depths->800 Feet-or so I’ve read.
It is refreshingly compact and could easily fit in a pants pocket and be forgotten about until needed.
It is highly collectible and truly an icon of American ingenuity.
It is completely affordable on almost any level of income (assuming one is buying the incandescent model.)

What I don’t like about the Mini Maglite:
The fact that the incandescent model is no longer widely available at many brick and mortar retailers as of 2018.

However, this is being done across the board with all incandescent flashlight and I am going to sound like a paranoid conspiracy theorist if I say it is being done on purpose.

A Mini Maglite is still widely available at smaller hardware stores and on sites like eBay.

It is one of the most popular flashlights in the world and I hope and pray that it never gets discontinued.

As I have stated before:
“This (the Mini Maglite) was probably the flashlight that revolutionized the industry and was a trailblazer in the subject of all things EDC.”

As I’ve also previously stated:
“While (the Mini Maglite is) not on the bleeding edge of today’s flashlight technology; it is still a tried and true favorite around the world. This is a flashlight that can be used in both the medical and custodial arts and anything in between! It can meet the needs of a surgeon but still be affordable on a janitor’s wages.”

I would guess many special forces operators carried one, at least for backup.

Go out or online and buy one for yourself while you still can.

You will not be disappointed at all and it will at least make a wonderful addition to your EDC items!

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